Etymologically
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stoicus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈstoː.ɪ.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstɔː.i.kus][1]

Forms

stōicus m (genitive stōicī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Στωϊκός (Stōïkós, “Stoic”),[2][1] from στοά (stoá, “portico”), the Painted Portico in Athens where Zeno taught.[1][3] The dictionaries write the word with a capital, Stōicus.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first use to Varro, 116–27 BC.[3] Cicero uses it of Stoic orators and the Stoic school.[2]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant of the Stoic philosophers or their teachings, as Horace's Stoic booklets and Seneca's Stoic sect.[2][4] As a masculine noun it was a Stoic, as Cicero's Stoicī nostrī, and the feminine was Stoic philosophy in Gellius.[2] Cicero's Stoicum est meant “it is a principle of the Stoics”, and the neuter plural the Stoic doctrines.[5]

Medieval British writers used it of the school and its followers, Zeno being called a philosopher of the Stoic sect.[6] English stoic is recorded in the late 14th century for a philosopher of Zeno's school.[7]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.[3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of Stoic orators.[2][3]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses the feminine for Stoic philosophy.[2][3]
  • late 14th century – English stoic is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Stoic, of the Stoic philosophers.[2][4]

Noun

  1. A Stoic philosopher.[2][5]
  2. (feminine) Stoic philosophy.[2]
  • Stōicidae
  • stōicē
  • English stoic

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com