tabernaculum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ta.bɛrˈnaː.kʊ.ɫũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ta.berˈnaː.ku.lum]^[1]

Forms

tabernāculum n (genitive tabernāculī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin taberna (“hut, booth”) + -culum.^[2][1] Festus explained that tents were named from their likeness to tabernae (“booths”), which were once built of planks.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it of a tent set up on the shore and in the Campus Martius.^[3][4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a tent, of soldiers, generals or kings, as Caesar's troops striking their tents.^[2][4] In religious language tabernāculum capere was said of an augur setting up a tent to take the auspices.^[2] Cicero uses it figuratively of those who pitched the tent of their life in philosophy.^[3]

In the Bible it rendered Ancient Greek σκηνή (skēnḗ, “tent”) for the Hebrew tabernacle.^[1] In medieval Latin it was a canopy over an altar, and the Feast of Tabernacles was sollemnitas tabernaculorum.^[6][7] Köbler adds the medieval senses of a coffin and the body as the seat of the soul.^[5] English tabernacle is recorded in the mid-13th century as the portable sanctuary of the Israelites.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a tent and of the augur's tent.^[2][3][5]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of soldiers' tents.^[4][5]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of the tabernacle.^[1][5]
• mid-13th century – English tabernacle is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A tent.^[2][3]
2. An augur's tent for taking the auspices.^[2]
3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The tabernacle of the Israelites.^[1][5]
4. (Medieval Latin) A canopy, ciborium.^[6]

Word family

• tabernāculārius

Related words

• taberna
• tabernārius
• English tabernacle
• English tavern

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: 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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com