Etymologically
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vulnerabilis

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [wʊɫ.nɛˈraː.bɪ.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [vul.neˈraː.bi.lis][1]

Forms

vulnerābilis (neuter vulnerābile); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from vulnerō “to wound”, from vulnus “wound”, with the suffix -bilis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Caelius Aurelianus, of the 5th century AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant liable to be wounded, vulnerable.[2] Etymonline gives Late Latin vulnerābilis also the active sense “wounding”.[3]

British Medieval Latin used it for capable of being wounded, as Trevet of Achilles struck in his vulnerable spot.[5] It survives in Italian vulnerabile and French and Spanish vulnérable, vulnerable, and gave English vulnerable about 1600.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it.[4]
  • c. 1600 – English vulnerable is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Vulnerable.[2]
  2. (Late Latin) Wounding.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ 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