Etymologically
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schedula

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈskʰɛ.dʊ.ɫa][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈskɛː.du.la][1]

Forms

schedula f (genitive schedulae); first declension[1] Also spelled ⟨scidula⟩ and ⟨scidola⟩; medieval spellings include ⟨scedula⟩, ⟨cedula⟩, ⟨sedula⟩ and ⟨cetula⟩.[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is from Latin scheda (“sheet of paper”) + -ula, a diminutive.[2][3][1][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Jerome is the first to use it, for a small leaf of paper, in his work against Rufinus.[2][3][6][4]

Semantic evolution

Jerome uses it several times, and Rufinus has it in his Apology;[7][3] Aethicus has the form scidola.[3] In Medieval Latin it was a leaf, slip or page, then a codex and a charter.[8] Ælfric Bata lists scedulae with tablets, styluses and knives as things needed for writing,[5] and a charter of 1099 calls a deed a schedula testamentalis.[9] In Neo-Latin it was a note or slip of paper and a public notice.[10]

As cedula it passed into Old French cedule, the source of English schedule, first “a slip of paper with writing on it” in the late 14th century;[11][4] Spanish cédula and German Zettel come from it too.[11][4]

Timeline

  • c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it of a small leaf of paper.[2][4]
  • c. 345–411/412 AD – Rufinus uses it in his Apology.[3][4]
  • c. 768 – Aethicus has the form scidola.[3][4]
  • 1099 – A charter calls a deed a schedula testamentalis.[9]
  • late 14th century – English borrows sedule, later schedule, through Old French.[11]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A small leaf or sheet of paper.[2][3][6][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A slip of paper, a note, a page.[8][5][12]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A codex.[8]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A charter.[8][9]
  5. (New Latin) A notice posted up.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c 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
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  8. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  10. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  11. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  12. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson