septendecim

Forms

septendecim (indeclinable)^[1] It is also written septemdecim, the form under which the OLD enters it;^[2][3] Lewis & Short think it less correct.^[2][3] The number was often written as separate words, septem decem, septem et decem or decem et septem, and manuscripts mostly give the numeral XVII.^[3][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin septem (“seven”) + decem (“ten”).^[2][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first certain author is Cicero, who speaks of seventeen peoples in the Verrine orations.^[3][5][4] Conte also cites it from Plautus' Cistellaria, where Lewis & Short read septem et decem.^[6][3]

Semantic evolution

Priscian says that Livy used it often, though the manuscripts of Livy mostly have the numeral;^[3] Tacitus has it as well.^[3][5] In Medieval Latin an English charter of 892 measures land as septem decim hides, and William of Malmesbury writes of a ruler who died seventeen years after gladly giving up his kingdom.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in the Verrine orations.^[3][5][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it, according to Priscian.^[3][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it in the Annals.^[3][5][4]
• 892 – An English charter uses it of seventeen hides of land.^[7]

Meanings

Numeral

1. Seventeen; 17.^[2][3][1]

Related words

• sēdecim
• duodēvīgintī

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
7. ^ 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