tributarius

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [trɪ.buːˈtaː.ri.ʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [tri.buˈtaː.ri.us]^[1]

Forms

tribūtārius (feminine tribūtāria, neuter tribūtārium); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin tribūtum (“tax, tribute”) + -ārius, from tribuō “to assign”, from tribus “tribe”.^[2][1][3] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨tribus⟩ as Proto-Italic *triþu- (“tripartite entity”), cognate with Umbrian ⟨trifu⟩ “district”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, who uses it once, apparently of remuneration.^[3][2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant liable to tax or tribute, as of tribūtārium solum “tributary land” in Pliny, and as a noun one who pays tribute.^[2][5]

Medieval Latin used it for liable to state taxes, owing rent, and having the status of a tributary, a kind of dependent tenant.^[6] English tributary (late 14th century, “paying tribute”) is from it.^[7]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][3]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of tributary land.^[5][3]
• late 14th century – English tributary is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Liable to tribute, tributary.^[2][8]
2. (noun) A tribute-payer.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Owing rent; of tributary status.^[6]

Related words

• tribūtum
• tribuō
• tribus
• English tributary

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press