theatricus

Forms

theātricus (feminine theātrica, neuter theātricum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek θεατρικός (theatrikós, “of the theatre”),^[2][3][4] an adjective from θέατρον (théatron, “theatre”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a Late Latin word, used for the Classical theatralis.^[2] Augustine is the first to use it, in the Confessions (written 397–401) and the City of God.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

Augustine applies it to the frivolities and indecencies of the stage in the City of God and elsewhere.^[2][3] British medieval Latin used it as a noun for a stage worker and, in the feminine, for stagecraft as one of the mechanical arts;^[7] Erasmus writes of theatrica certamina, public contests.^[8]

Timeline

• 397–401 AD – Augustine uses it in the Confessions.^[5]
• 354–430 AD – Augustine speaks of theatrical indecencies in the City of God.^[2][3][4]
• 1580 – A Magdalen College register provides for the expenses of the stage players.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of or belonging to the theatre; theatrical.^[2][3][9]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, masculine) A stage worker.^[7]
2. (Medieval Latin, feminine) Stagecraft, as one of the mechanical arts.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson