servus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛr.wʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛr.vus]^[1]

Forms

servus m (genitive servī, feminine serva); second declension^[1] The Old Latin form is servos.^[1][2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *serwo- (“shepherd, guardian”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *ser-u-o- (“guardian”), possibly from the root Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to watch over, protect”).^[3][1] Rix argued that “guardian, shepherd” turned into “slave” in Italy between 700 and 450 BC, and that serviō is derived from it.^[3] Cognate with Avestan haraⁱti (“heeds, protects”).^[1] The Oxford Latin Dictionary calls the origin doubtful, perhaps Etruscan.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It appears in the Twelve Tables and in Livius Andronicus.^[3] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a slave, opposed to līber “free”, in Plautus, Terence and Cicero, who also calls a man a slave of his desires.^[6][2] As an adjective it meant servile, of a subject people, and in law of land or buildings subject to a servitude.^[4]

In medieval Latin it was a servant of any status, and servus Deī was used of bishops and priests.^[7] Proto-Romance */ˈsɛrβ-u/ “unfree person” is continued in most Romance languages.^[8] It survives as Italian servo, French serf, Spanish siervo and Romanian șerb.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^[3][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[6][5]
• late 15th century – English serf is recorded, from Old French serf.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A slave.^[4][10]
2. A servant; a serf.^[1][10]
3. Figuratively, a slave (of passions).^[6]
4. (Medieval Latin) Servus Deī, servant of God, of bishops and priests.^[7]

Adjective

1. Slave, servile.^[4]
2. Of peoples, subject.^[4]
3. (law) Of land or buildings, subject to a servitude.^[4]

Word family

• servīlis
• serviō
• servitūdō
• servitūs
• servō
• servulus

Related words

• ancula
• anculus
• serva
• English serf
• English serve

Usage notes

Justinian's Institutes say that slaves were called servī because commanders sold captives and so kept (servāre) them alive.^[10] Döderlein contrasts servus with famulus and mancipium, all unfree, and minister, who is free.^[11]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ Buchi, Éva; Schweickard, Wolfgang, eds. (2008–), Dictionnaire Étymologique Roman (DÉRom), Nancy: ATILF, http://www.atilf.fr/DERom
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
11. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper