urbs

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈʊrps]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈurbs]^[1]

Forms

urbs f (genitive urbis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

The origin is disputed.^[2][3] De Vaan, following Driessen, derives it from Proto-Italic *worf-(i-), from Proto-Indo-European *u(o)rbʰ-(i-) (“enclosure”), comparing Umbrian uerfale (“area for taking auspices”) and Hittite warpa- (“enclosure”).^[4][1] Earlier proposals linked it with orbis “circle”, with a word *gʰordʰo- “enclosure” (as in English garden) or with *bʰr̥ǵʰ- “fortress”; de Vaan reports that these are rejected.^[4] Isidore derives it from orbis, since ancient cities were built in a circle, or from urbum, the part of the plough with which the walls were marked out.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from the Twelve Tables.^[4][3] Plautus has “this city was given the name Epidamnus”.^[2] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a city or large town, both as a place and as a political community, and specifically the city of Rome, Urbs.^[2] Virgil's Aeneas marks out the city with a plough.^[6]

In medieval Latin it was the seat of a bishop, especially an important city, and urbs urbium was Rome.^[7][8] Its derivative urbānus gave English urbane, and suburbium gave English suburb.^[9] It was borrowed into Italian urbe.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – the Twelve Tables use it.^[4][3]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of the city of Epidamnus.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of Rome.^[2][3]
• early 14th century – English suburb is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A city, large town.^[2]
2. Urbs, the city of Rome.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) A bishop's see, an important city.^[7]

Word family

• suburbium
• urbānus
• urbicapus
• urbicremus
• urbicus
• urbigena
• amburbium
• quadrurbs
• urbānātim
• urbānē
• urbāniciānus
• urbānitās

Related words

• English urbane
• English suburb

References

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