Etymologically
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syrma

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈsyr.ma][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈsir.ma][1]

Forms

syrma n (genitive syrmatis); third declension[1] Earlier writers (Afranius, Valerius, Cornelius Severus) decline it as a feminine of the first declension, syrma, -ae.[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek σύρμα (súrma, “robe with a train”).[2][4][1][5] Köbler compares the Greek word, with a question mark, with Proto-Indo-European *su̯erbʰ- (“to turn, wipe, sweep”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest uses are in the comic poet Afranius, who still treats it as a feminine of the first declension.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

It was a long robe with a train, worn especially by actors in tragedy;[2][6] Seneca uses it in his tragedies,[6][3] and Juvenal of the costume of the tragic stage.[6][3] By metonymy it stood for tragedy itself or a tragic role, in Martial and Juvenal.[2][6] Late poets such as Prudentius, Paulinus of Nola and Sidonius use it for a trailing robe.[3][6]

Medieval British writers used it for a long robe, for the train or ornamental border of a garment, and figuratively for a long speech.[7]

Timeline

  • 2nd half of the 2nd century BC – Afranius uses the feminine syrma, -ae.[2][3][5]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses the neuter syrma, -atis in his tragedies.[6][3][5]
  • 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it for tragedy.[6][5]
  • c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses it of the tragic costume and of tragic roles.[2][6][5]
  • 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses it of a trailing robe.[6][3][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A robe with a long train, worn especially by tragic actors.[2][6]
  2. (by metonymy) Tragedy; a tragic role.[2][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) The train or ornamental border of a garment;[7] (figurative) a long speech.[7]

Word family

  • syrmaticus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
  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 f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c 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