Etymologically
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sacer

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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
  • 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