servilis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sɛrˈwiː.lɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [serˈviː.lis]^[1]

Forms

servīlis (neuter servīle, adverb servīle or servīliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin servus (“slave”) + -īlis.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨servus⟩ to Proto-Italic *serwo- (“shepherd”), Proto-Indo-European *ser-wo- (“guardian”), and reports Rix's view that “guardian, shepherd” turned pejoratively into “slave” in Italy between about 700 and 450 BC.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is the Twelve Tables, and the OLD's earliest citation is Plautus.^[4][2] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant of, belonging to, or involving slaves, as in the tumultus servīlis “slave revolt” and Caesar's in servīlem modum “as with a slave”; and in Horace of character slavish, servile, mean.^[2][5][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means servile, slavish.^[7] Medieval Latin opera servīlia were the kinds of manual labour regarded as fit for the unfree, and terra servīlis a tenant holding of a manor.^[8][4] English servile (late 14th century) is from it.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^[4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of slavish character.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English servile is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of a slave or slaves.^[2][5]
2. Slavish, servile, mean.^[2][7]
3. (Medieval Latin) Of manual labour; of unfree tenure.^[8][10]

Related words

• servus
• serviō
• servitūs
• English servile

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ 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 Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ 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