Etymologically
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solacium

Etymology and origin of the Latin word solacium

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (sōlor)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin solacium
English solace

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [soːˈɫaː.ki.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [soˈlaː.t͡ʃi.um][1]

Forms

sōlācium n (genitive sōlāciī or sōlācī); second declension[1]

Etymology

The OLD takes it apparently from *sōlax, an adjective in -āx from sōlor “to comfort”, with -ium.[2][1] The variant spelling is sōlātium, which Georges rejects.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first use to Plautus, c. 250–184 BC.[4] Lucretius speaks of the comforts of sleep and of life.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant relief in sorrow or misfortune, comfort, as when Cicero says studies give refuge and solace in adversity.[2][6] It was a consolation for a loss, or something that makes up for a disadvantage, as in Livy.[2] In legal texts it meant compensation, perhaps only in interpolated passages.[2][1]

In medieval Latin it was help and assistance, and Köbler adds military service.[7][4] English solace is recorded around 1300, through Old French solaz.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius speaks of the comforts of sleep.[5][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero says studies give solace.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English solace is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Comfort, relief, solace.[2][5]
  2. A consolation; something that makes up for a loss.[2]
  3. (law) Compensation.[2][1]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Help, assistance.[7]

Word family

  • sōlāciolum
  • sōlāmen
  • sōlāmentum
  • sōlātor
  • sōlor
  • English solace
  • English console

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  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 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 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
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Solacium.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/solacium. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·