Etymologically
Log in

stips

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 19:50. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈstɪps][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstips][1]

Forms

stips f (genitive stipis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *stip- (“stalk”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *stip- (“stalk”).[2][1] De Vaan suggests that a concrete object used in payments, perhaps a stalk, gave the meaning “payment”.[2] Stīpendium “pay” comes from *stipi-pendium by haplology, and stipulārī “to bargain” from stipula “straw”.[2][3]

Compare Umbrian stiplo (“stipulate”).[2] Lewis and Short and Georges connect it with stīpō “to pack”, as coins in a heap.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan finds it from Plautus onwards,[2] and Köbler from Ennius.[6]

Semantic evolution

It was a small offering of money, usually to a common fund, especially for religious purposes, as when Livy has the people bring Apollo an offering in proportion to their means.[7][8] Stipem cogere was to collect such offerings, as in Cicero, and it also meant a small coin, a fee, alms, and gain.[5][8][6]

The nominative singular is hardly attested.[4] In Medieval Latin it also meant a benefice.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses stipem cogere, “to collect offerings”.[5][8][6]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy describes an offering to Apollo.[8][6]
  • early 15th century – English stipend comes from its derivative stipendium.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A small offering of money, a contribution, a gift.[7][1]
  2. Alms, charity.[1][5]
  3. A small coin; a fee; gain.[8][6]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A benefice.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b 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 d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  8. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.