Etymologically
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synagoga

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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]

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