Etymologically
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septendecim

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sɛpˈtɛn.dɛ.kĩː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [sepˈtɛn.de.t͡ʃim][1]

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]

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