speculum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈspɛ.kʊ.ɫũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspɛː.ku.lum]^[1]

Forms

speculum n (genitive speculī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from speciō “to look” with the instrument suffix -ulum, perhaps from a pre-Latin ⟨*spektlom⟩.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a mirror, a looking glass.^[2] Etymonline adds the sense of a copy, an imitation.^[3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a mirror, glass.^[5] Medieval Latin used it for a watch-tower.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for a mirror, also figuratively, curved mirrors, the burning mirror, and an instrument for looking.^[7] It was borrowed into Germanic as ⟨*spiegel⟩, whence German Spiegel.^[4] English speculum was borrowed in the early 15th century as a surgical instrument.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[4]
• early 15th century – English speculum is recorded, in surgery.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A mirror, looking glass.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) A watch-tower.^[6]
3. (Medieval Latin) An instrument for looking, a speculum.^[7]

Related words

• speciō
• speculor
• English speculum

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
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