sublica

Forms

sublica f (genitive sublicae); first declension^[1] Sallust has a third-declension plural sublicibus.^[2][3]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain: the OLD marks it as doubtful^[2] and Wiktionary as unknown.^[1] Georges and Köbler explain it from sub (“under”) and the root of liquor¹ (“to be liquid, flow”), as a stake standing under water.^[4][5] De Vaan lists it under laciō (“to draw, pull”), beside technical words for gutters, beams and furrows that are usually derived from liqueō (“to be liquid”) but that he would rather derive from that verb.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius,^[6][5] and it means a wooden stake or pile.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

It was a stake driven into the ground, normally to carry a bridge or another heavy structure.^[2][3] Caesar uses it of bridge piles,^[3][4] and both Caesar and Livy of stakes set up as a palisade;^[3] Vitruvius uses it in building.^[3][4] From it came the adjective sublicius “resting on piles”, used above all of bridges.^[6]

In later Latin it kept the sense of a pile or a pier: Thomas More contrasts a bridge of stone with one of wooden piles and stakes.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[6][5]
• 86–34 BC – Sallust has the plural sublicibus.^[2][5]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of bridge piles.^[3][5]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the piles of a bridge and of a palisade.^[3][5]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it in building.^[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A wooden stake or pile driven into the ground, especially as a support for a bridge.^[2][3]
2. A stake in a palisade.^[3][1]

Word family

• sublicius

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
5. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
7. ^ 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