studium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈstʊ.di.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstuː.di.um]^[1]

Forms

studium n (genitive studiī or studī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin studeō (“to be eager”) + -ium.^[2][1] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *stud-ē-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *stud-eh₁-, a stative to *(s)tud- “to thrust”, hence “to be pushing, strive after”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,^[3][4] who speaks of people who mind other people's business “with the greatest zeal”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant zeal or eager application, and with a genitive enthusiasm for something, as Cicero's passion for ball games.^[2] It meant the object of one's interest, an activity or pastime, as Terence's young men who set their minds on some pursuit, and devotion or goodwill towards a person or party.^[2]

From this it meant partisan feeling, and intellectual and especially literary work, study.^[2][1] In Medieval Latin it was a school or university.^[1] English study came from it through Old French about 1300.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of zeal.^[2][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a pursuit.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of goodwill and of study.^[2][4]
• c. 1300 – English study is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. Zeal, eagerness, application.^[2][1]
2. Enthusiasm (for something); desire.^[2][1]
3. An aim, concern.^[2]
4. A pursuit, pastime, hobby.^[2][1]
5. Devotion, goodwill, support.^[2][1]
6. Partisanship.^[2]
7. Study, learning.^[2][1]
8. (Medieval Latin) A school, university.^[1]

Word family

• studiolum
• studiōsus

Related words

• studeo
• English study

Usage notes

Döderlein describes studium as the attachment of an inferior to a superior, as of a soldier to his general or a pupil to his teacher.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper