theatrum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [tʰeˈaː.trũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [teˈaː.trum]^[1]

Forms

theātrum n (genitive theātrī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek θέατρον (théatron, “place for viewing”), from θεάομαι (theáomai, “to watch”).^[1][2][3] An inscription has ⟨teatr-⟩.^[2] Isidore says it is named from watching, because the people standing above looked on at the plays.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of a theatre.^[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a theatre, a place for watching plays, also used in Greek cities for public meetings, and by metonymy the audience, as in Cicero.^[2][5][6] From Cicero it also meant a stage on which one's qualities are shown in public.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a theatre or show.^[7] In British Medieval Latin it also meant a stage or platform.^[8] English theater came in the late 14th century, through Old French and directly from Latin, first of the ancient open-air theatres.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of a theatre.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the audience and of a public stage.^[2][3]
• late 14th century – English theater is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A theatre; a place of public assembly.^[2]
2. The audience in a theatre.^[2]
3. A public stage for one's qualities.^[2]

Word family

• theātrālis
• theātricus

Related words

• scaena
• English theater
• English theatre

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ 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. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com