synagoga

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sy.naˈɡoː.ɡa]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [si.naˈɡɔː.ɡa]^[1]

Forms

synagōga f (genitive synagōgae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek συναγωγή (sunagōgḗ, “assembly”),^[2][1] from συν- (sun-, “together”) and ἄγω (ágō, “to lead”).^[1] The OLD records the spelling sinagōga.^[2] Isidore of Seville says it is Greek for congregation, a name the Jews kept for themselves.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Tertullian uses it of a congregation or synagogue of Jews.^[4][5] Köbler dates Tertullian c. 160–220 AD.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It was a congregation of Jews and their place of worship, and a scholiast on Juvenal uses it too.^[2][4] The Vulgate uses it in Acts, and Jerome uses it of the Jewish religion.^[7]

In medieval Latin it was also any assembly or meeting, a Jewish community and Judaism.^[8] English synagogue is recorded in the late 12th century.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it of a synagogue.^[4][6]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it in Acts.^[7][6]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville explains the word.^[3][6]
• late 12th century – English synagogue is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A congregation of Jews; a synagogue.^[2][4]
2. Judaism, the Jewish religion.^[7][8]
3. (Medieval Latin) An assembly, meeting.^[8][10]

Related words

• English synagogue

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ 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