singuli

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sem-g-lo-, from Proto-Indo-European *s(e)m-gʰ- (“single”): Meiser explains it as containing a distributive particle *-gʰ-, later suffixed with *-lo-.^[1][2] The root is that of semel “once” and simplex “simple”.^[2][3][4] De Vaan dismisses an older derivation as *sem-ǵno- from the root of “to be born”.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose character speaks of men who eat one meal a day.^[1][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

As a distributive it meant one apiece, one each, as Cicero's twelve acres to each man.^[2][3] It also meant taken separately, individual, as Cicero's arts that each defend themselves, single as opposed to groups, isolated, and single in number.^[2] Lewis and Short note that the singular is only ante- and post-classical.^[6] The feminine singulae was the name of a coin, half a libella.^[2]

In Medieval Latin it meant every.^[7] Through Old French sengle the singular singulus is the source of English single, recorded in the early 14th century.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of one meal each.^[2][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of things taken separately.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of land assigned to each man.^[3][5]
• early 14th century – English single is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. One apiece, one each.^[2]
2. Taken separately, individual.^[2]
3. Single, isolated.^[2]
4. Single in number.^[2]
5. (feminine, as noun) A coin worth half a libella.^[2]

Related words

• semel
• simplex
• simul
• English single

References

1. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill