territorium

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [tɛr.rɪˈtoː.ri.ũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ter.riˈtɔː.ri.um]^[1]

Forms

territōrium n (genitive territōriī or territōrī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from terra “land” with the ending of place names in -tōrium, apparently on the analogy of words like dēversōrium.^[2][1][3] Etymonline quotes de Vaan's remark that -tōrium is otherwise productive only after verbs, so the formation is unexplained.^[3] Varro spells it teritōrium, linking it with terō “to wear by rubbing”.^[2] Isidore derives it from tauritōrium, land worn by oxen and the plough.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Varro, in On the Latin Language, says the common land left near a town for the settlers is called territōrium.^[5][2] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It was the land within the boundaries of a town, its domain or district, and the jurist Pomponius defines it as all the land within the bounds of each community.^[2][5][7] Cicero uses it of a colony's territory, and Pliny the Elder too.^[8][9]

In medieval Latin it was the territory of a city, a diocese, and a district or pagus.^[7] British writers used it of a piece of land, often named, and of a territory under some jurisdiction, as in a charter of 690.^[10] Its descendants include French terroir, and the learned French territoire and Italian territorio.^[1] English territory is recorded in the late 14th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro explains it.^[5][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a colony's land.^[8][6]
• 690 – An English charter uses it of a piece of land.^[10]
• late 14th century – English territory is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The land belonging to a town, a domain, territory.^[2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) A diocese; a district.^[7]
3. (Medieval Latin) A piece of land.^[10]

Word family

• territōriālis

Related words

• terra
• English territory

References

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