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sacramentum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word sacramentum

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Varro
Ultimate origin
Latin (sacer)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sa.kraːˈmɛn.tũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sa.kraˈmɛn.tum][1]

Forms

sacrāmentum n (genitive sacrāmentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from sacrō “to consecrate”, from sacer “sacred”, with the suffix -mentum.[2][1][3] Isidore explains it as a pledge, so called because breaking a promise is perfidy.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of the sum staked in a lawsuit.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Varro 116–27 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In classical Latin it was a legal and military term.[6] In law it was the sum each party to a suit deposited with the pontiffs, the loser's stake going to religious uses, and the suit itself, as in Varro and Cicero.[2][6][7] In Cicero it meant the soldier's oath of allegiance, in Petronius a solemn obligation, and in Apuleius perhaps an initiation.[2] Döderlein explains that iūsiūrandum is a civil oath, sacrāmentum a soldier's oath.[8]

In Christian Latin it meant a hidden truth, a mystery, sacred doctrine, a profession of faith, a Christian rite or sacrament, a religious feast, the Mass and the Eucharist.[9] Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for a symbol, rite, mystery and sacrament.[10] Isidore names baptism, chrism and the Eucharist as sacraments.[4] British Medieval Latin used it for a formal oath, as the corporal oath sworn touching a sacred object.[11] It survives in Italian and Spanish sacramento, and as French serment “oath”; through Old French it gave English sacrament in late Old English.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the stake in a lawsuit.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the military oath.[2][5]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore defines the sacraments.[4][5]
  • late Old English – English sacrament is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (law) The sum deposited by each party to a suit; the suit.[2][6]
  2. A military oath of allegiance.[2]
  3. A solemn obligation.[2]
  4. Initiation.[2]
  5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A mystery; a sacrament; the Eucharist.[9][10]
  6. (Medieval Latin) A formal oath.[11]

Word family

  • sacrāmentālis

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from iūsiūrandum.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  10. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  11. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Sacramentum.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sacramentum. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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