Etymologically
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sigillum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sɪˈɡɪl.lũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [siˈd͡ʒil.lum][1]

Forms

sigillum n (genitive sigillī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is a diminutive of signum “sign, image”, formed early: *signolom > *sign̥lom > *siginlom > ⟨sigillum⟩.[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of a statuette.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Varro 116–27 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a statuette, a little figure, often in the plural, as in Cicero's Verrines and Vitruvius.[2][4] It meant a stamped or embossed figure, a relief, as in Horace, a figure woven in tapestry, as in Ovid, and the figure on a signet ring or its impression in wax, a seal, as in Cicero.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a seal, signet, and sigilla small figures or images.[5] British Medieval Latin used it of a carved image and of carved stones.[6] Through Vulgar Latin *sigellum and Old French seel it gave English seal “design stamped on wax” about 1200, and Late Latin sigillum gave English sigil in the mid-15th century.[7]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a statuette.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of statuettes and of a seal.[2][4][3]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a relief.[2][3]
  • c. 1200 – English seal is recorded, through Old French.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A statuette, figurine.[2]
  2. A relief; a figure in tapestry.[2]
  3. The figure on a signet ring; a wax seal.[2]

Word family

  • sigillārius
  • sigillō
  • siglum

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com