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sacerdotium

Etymology and origin of the Latin word sacerdotium

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (sacerdōs)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sa.kɛrˈdoː.ti.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sa.t͡ʃerˈdɔt.t͡si.um][1]

Forms

sacerdōtium n (genitive sacerdōtiī or sacerdōtī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from sacerdōs “priest” with the suffix -ium.[2][1] De Vaan explains ⟨sacerdōs⟩ as Proto-Italic ⟨*sakro-dōt-⟩ “who has sacred endowments”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of a priesthood.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the office of a priest or priestess, a priesthood, as in Cicero, and in the plural in Apuleius priestly lore.[2] Lewis & Short note it is used in good prose.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant the priesthood, the priestly function.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for the priesthood of ancient Israel, of contemporary Jews and of the Church.[7] It survives in Italian sacerdozio, French sacerdoce and Spanish sacerdocio.[1]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of priestly lore.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The priesthood, the office of a priest.[2]
  2. (plural) Priestly lore.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  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
Cite this entry

“Sacerdotium.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sacerdotium. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·