securis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sɛˈkuː.rɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [seˈkuː.ris]^[1]

Forms

secūris f (genitive secūris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is related to secō “to cut”, from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (“to cut”).^[2][1][3] Wiktionary compares Proto-Slavic *sekyra (“axe”).^[1] The accusative is usually ⟨secūrim⟩, sometimes ⟨secūrem⟩, as in Cicero and Livy.^[2][4] Isidore derives it from cutting down trees, as if ⟨succūris⟩.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of an axe.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant an axe, chopper, hatchet, and in Virgil a battleaxe.^[2][6] In Cicero it meant the executioner's axe, especially that carried in the fasces of a Roman magistrate, secūrī ferīre “to behead”, and in the plural the authority of a magistrate or of Rome.^[2][6] In Columella it was the chopping part of a vine-dresser's knife.^[2] Döderlein contrasts the butcher's secūris with the carpenter's ascia.^[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant an axe or hatchet.^[8] British Medieval Latin used it of felling axes, masons', butchers' and battle axes.^[9] It survives in Italian scure, Spanish segur and Romanian secure.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of an axe.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the executioner's axe and of authority.^[2][3]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a battleaxe.^[2][3]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of part of a pruning knife.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. An axe, hatchet; a battleaxe.^[2]
2. The executioner's axe of the fasces.^[2]
3. In the plural, a magistrate's authority, Roman jurisdiction.^[2]
4. The chopping part of a vine-dresser's knife.^[2]

Word family

• secūricula
• secūrifer
• secūriger

Related words

• secō
• English saw
• English sickle

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it as the butcher's cleaver from ascia, the carpenter's axe.^[7]

References

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