Etymologically
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tribus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtrɪ.bʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtriː.bus][1]

Forms

tribus f (genitive tribūs); fourth declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *triþu- (“tripartite unit”), probably Proto-Indo-European *tri-dʰh₁-u- (“a division into three”), from the root of trēs “three” and *dʰeh₁- “to put”.[2][1] Cognate with Umbrian trifu (“district”).[2][3] Weiss bases it on an adjective *tri-dʰh₁-o- “made in three parts”.[2] Isidore explains it from the three parts into which Romulus divided the people.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus, and de Vaan cites it from Varro.[5][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was first each of the three ancient divisions of the Roman people, the Tities, Ramnes and Luceres.[3][6] Then it was each of the local tribes in which all citizens were enrolled, four urban ones and rural ones added until there were thirty-five in 241 BC.[3] It was also used of tribes in other states, such as those of Athens.[3]

In Christian Latin it was used of the twelve tribes of Israel, and in medieval Britain of a Scottish clan.[7] English tribe came from it in the mid-13th century, first of the Hebrew tribes.[6] Its derivatives tribūnus, tribuō and tribūtum gave English tribune and English tribute.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[5]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro describes the tribes.[2][5]
  • mid-13th century – English tribe is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Each of the three ancient divisions of the Roman people.[3]
  2. A tribe, a voting district of Roman citizens.[3]
  3. A tribe (outside Rome).[3]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A tribe of Israel.[7]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A lineage; a clan.[8][7]

Word family

  • tribuārius
  • tribūlis
  • tribūnus
  • tribuō
  • tribālis
  • tribūnal
  • tribūnātus
  • tribūnīcius
  • tribūtārius
  • tribūtim
  • tribūtiō
  • tribūtum
  • trēs
  • English tribe
  • English tribute

Usage notes

Tribus is also the dative and ablative plural of trēs “three”.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.