Etymologically
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stativus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [staˈtiː.wʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [staˈtiː.vus][1]

Forms

statīvus (feminine statīva, neuter statīvum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin stō (“to stand”) + -īvus.[2][1] De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of that verb.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro,[3] who speaks of stativae aquae, standing waters such as lakes and ponds.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Apart from that sense it is rare: Apuleius uses it of the stationary point of a planet, translating a Greek term.[2][5] It is chiefly military: a praesidium stativum is a fixed post, and castra stativa a permanent camp, in Cicero, Caesar, Sallust, Livy and Tacitus.[2][4] Cicero uses it ironically of a governor without an army who made his stationary camp in the finest part of Syracuse.[2][5] The neuter plural stativa was a permanent camp, and of travellers a halt or resting day.[2][4] Tertullian contrasts it with ambulatorius, at home and on the road.[5] Macrobius has feriae stativae, fixed festivals.[6]

In Late Latin there is also a feminine stativa, a halt.[5][6] Medieval writers in Britain use it of rest after activity and, as a noun, of a landing place or staithe.[7]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of standing waters.[2][8]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses castra stativa and praesidium stativum.[2][8]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses castra stativa.[2][8]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses the plural stativa for a permanent camp.[2][8]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Stationary, standing still.[2][4]
  2. (military) Of a camp or post: permanent, fixed.[2][4]
  3. Of festivals: fixed.[6]

Noun

  1. (neuter plural) A permanent camp; of travellers, a halt.[2][4]
  2. (Medieval Latin, feminine) A landing place.[7]

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 k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  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 c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de