Etymologically
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teutonicus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [tɛu̯ˈtɔ.nɪ.kʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [teu̯ˈtɔː.ni.kus][1]

Forms

teutonicus (feminine teutonica, neuter teutonicum); first/second-declension adjective[1] Usually written with a capital, Teutonicus; medieval spellings include Teotonicus and Theotonicus.[1][2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin Teutonī + -icus, from the tribal name Teutonī or Teutonēs (“the Teutons”).[1][2][3] The name probably comes from Proto-Germanic *þeudanōz,[1] perhaps through Celtic, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teuta- (“tribe”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Propertius uses it of the Teutons,[5][3] who with the Cimbri invaded Roman territory and were defeated by Marius.[6]

Semantic evolution

In Latin poetry it was used more widely for “Germanic”,[7] and Lucan and Velleius Paterculus also have it.[3] In medieval Latin it came to mean “German”, of Germany or its inhabitants and of the German language (lingua Teutonica),[8][2] and as a noun it meant a German, a knight of the Teutonic Order or a Hanseatic merchant.[2] English Teutonic dates from the 1610s.[4]

Timeline

  • 57/46–12 BC – Propertius uses it of the Teutons.[5][2]
  • AD 39–65 – Lucan uses it.[3][5][2]
  • c. 1118 – Florence of Worcester uses it as a noun for a German.[2]
  • 1610s – English Teutonic is formed from it.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of the Teutons, Teutonic.[9][5]
  2. (poetic) Germanic.[7]
  3. (Medieval Latin) German; of the German language.[8][2]

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A German; a knight of the Teutonic Order; a Hanseatic merchant.[2]
  • English Teutonic

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Simpson, D. P. (1959), Cassell's New Latin Dictionary, London: Cassell
  8. ^ a b 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
  9. ^ Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press