sacer

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsa.kɛr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsaː.t͡ʃer]^[1]

Forms

sacer (feminine sacra, neuter sacrum, superlative sacerrimus); first/second-declension adjective (nominative masculine singular in -er)^[1] The Forum inscription has sakros; an old third-declension form sācer, sācris “fit for sacrifice” is used of pigs.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sakro- (“sacred”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂k-ro-, from a root Proto-Indo-European *s(e)h₂k- (“to sanctify, make a treaty”) with ablaut.^[2][1] sanciō “to make sacred” continues a nasal present of the same root.^[2] Cognate with Faliscan sacra, Oscan σακορο (sakoro) and Umbrian sacra (“sacred”), and perhaps with Hittite šaklāi-.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found as sakros on the archaic Forum inscription (Lapis Niger).^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was consecrated to a god, sacred, as Aelius Gallus defined it, whatever was consecrated by the custom of the state, and holy by association with worship, as Plautus' crown stolen from Jupiter.^[3][5] A person who had offended a god was sacer, forfeit to the god, and so accursed or detestable.^[3][1] Döderlein contrasts it, what belongs to the gods, with sānctus, what is under their protection.^[6] The Mons Sacer and the Via Sacra were named with it.^[5]

In Christian Latin it was used of consecrated persons, buildings, altars and fonts.^[7] Its verb sacrāre gave English sacred, and sacrāmentum “oath” gave sacrament.^[8] It survives as Italian sacro.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][9]
• late Old English – English sacrament is recorded.^[8]
• late 14th century – English sacred is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Sacred, consecrated (to a god), hallowed.^[3][4]
2. Forfeit to a god; accursed, detestable, wicked.^[3][1]
3. Holy, divine.^[3][1]

Word family

• sacrifer
• sacrilegus
• sacrō
• sacrōsānctus
• sacrum
• sacellum
• sacerdōs
• sacrālis
• sacrārium
• sacrārius

Related words

• sacerdōtālis
• sacerdōtium
• sacerdōtula
• sacrāmentālis
• sacrāmentum
• sacrātē
• sacrātiō
• sacrātor
• sacrificālis
• sacrificātiō
• sanciō
• sānctus
• English sacred
• English sacrament

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ 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
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de