Etymologically
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sacrificium

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sa.krɪˈfɪ.ki.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sa.kriˈfiː.t͡ʃi.um][1]

Forms

sacrificium n (genitive sacrificiī or sacrificī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from sacrificō “to sacrifice” with the suffix -ium, ultimately from sacrum “rite” and faciō “to do”.[2][1] Isidore explains it as a ⟨sacrum factum⟩, a thing made holy.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero uses it of a public sacrifice.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant an offering to a god, a sacrifice, as Cicero's sacrificium pūblicum and Caesar's druids who saw to sacrifices.[2][5][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a sacrifice, offering, oblation.[7] Medieval Latin used it of the faithful's offerings for Mass, the host, and the Mass itself, and British Medieval Latin of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.[8][9] Isidore says it is consecrated by mystic prayer in memory of the Lord's passion.[3] Old French sacrifise gave English sacrifice in the late 13th century.[10]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a public sacrifice.[5][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the druids' sacrifices.[6][4]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore uses it of the Eucharist.[3][4]
  • late 13th century – English sacrifice is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An offering to a god, a sacrifice.[2]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) An oblation; the Mass.[7][8]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Offerings for Mass; the host.[8]

Word family

  • sacrificālis
  • sacrificulus

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 Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com