Etymologically
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speculum

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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]

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