rosarium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [rɔˈsaː.ri.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [roˈs̬aː.ri.um]^[1]

Forms

rosārium n (genitive rosāriī or rosārī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from rosa “rose” with the suffix -ārium “place for”, the neuter of ⟨rosārius⟩ “of roses”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Varro, whom he dates 116–27 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a rose bed, rose garden, as in Virgil's Georgics and Columella.^[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for a rose garden, also figuratively, a rose bush, and a rose wreath.^[6] In Medieval Latin it also meant a garland, a string of beads, and a series of prayers, from the idea of a garden of prayers; it gave English rosary in the mid-15th century, first “rose garden”.^[3]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^[4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it.^[5][4]
• mid-15th century – English rosary is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A rose garden, rose bed.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) A rose wreath; a rosary.^[6][3]

Related words

• rosa
• rosārius
• English rosary

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press