Etymologically

900s

Latin words first recorded in the 10th century

27 Latin words whose earliest known written record dates from the 10th century, earliest first. Words dated only to part of the century follow the ones with a year.

  1. solidata

    903

    It is a medieval formation from Latin solidus (“solidus, shilling”), the coin.

  2. bancalis

    907

    It is a derivative of Medieval Latin bancus (“bench”). Köbler, however, calls its origin unclear.

  3. faldistolium

    915–924

    It is borrowed from Frankish *faldistōl (“folding stool, folding chair”). The MLW compares Old High German faldistuol and Köbler faldilstuol (“folding chair, seat of office”), which he traces to…

  4. occasionalis

    919

    It is from Latin occāsiō (“opportunity”) + -ālis.

  5. plata

    941

    It is probably from Vulgar Latin *plattus (“flat”), a Vulgar Latin adjective formed on the model of Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús, “flat, broad”). Köbler likewise refers it to the Greek adjective…

  6. firma

    945

    The origin is disputed. It is, according to the DMLBS and Niermeyer, borrowed from Old English feorm (“food, provision, feast”); Niermeyer and Köbler add that its sense was influenced by firmus…

  7. collaborator

    948

    It is from Latin collabōrō (“to work together”) + -tor, an agent noun.

  8. blancus

    950–959

    It is borrowed from Frankish *blank (“white”), from a Germanic adjective that Köbler gives as Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, shining”); Niermeyer likewise calls it Germanic. Köbler connects it…

  9. levata

    954

    It is from Latin levō (“to raise, lift”), a Medieval Latin formation. The verb is formed from levis (“light”), which goes back to Proto-Italic *leχu- and Proto-Indo-European *h1legwh-u-. Du Cange…

  10. rupta

    954

    It is from Latin rumpō (“to break”): the feminine of its past participle, used as a noun. Etymonline explains the sense “road” as a way broken open through a forest, and the sense “troop” as a band…

  11. recommendo

    961

    It is from Latin re- + commendō (“to entrust, commend”), formed in Medieval Latin.

  12. soma

    975–994

    It is borrowed from Ancient Greek σῶμα (sôma, “body”).

  13. dorsarium

    978–1016

    It is from Latin dorsum (“back”) + -ārium. Niermeyer treats it as the same word as ⟨dorsale⟩, which Du Cange explains as a hanging so called because it hangs at the back of a person sitting. The…

  14. legitimo

    983–993

    It is a medieval formation from Latin lēgitimus (“lawful, legitimate”) + -ō, ultimately from lēx (“law”).

  15. salvitas

    986

    It is from Latin salvus + -tās, formed in Medieval Latin.

  16. principissa

    989

    It is from Latin prīnceps (“prince, ruler”) + -issa.

  17. bordum

    992

    It is borrowed from Frankish *bord (“board, plank”). Köbler traces the Germanic word to Proto-Germanic *burdą (“board, table”), and that to Proto-Indo-European *bʰr̥dʰo- (“board”), perhaps from a…

  18. pizza

    997

    The origin is uncertain. According to the NGML it is borrowed from Italian pizza, which may in turn come from Greek πίττα (pítta); the NGML marks the Greek source with a question mark. Du Cange…

  19. bancus

    1000–1099

    It is borrowed from Proto-Germanic *bankiz (“raised place, bench”). The MLW compares Old High German banc. Köbler refers the Germanic word further to Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”).

  20. cusinus

    1000

    It is from Latin cōnsobrīnus (“cousin”), through its Romance outcome. The usual explanation, which the GMLC reports, takes the Romance word as a shortened form of it; Corominas, whom the GMLC…

  21. differentialis

    1000–1099

    It is from Latin differentia (“difference”) + -ālis, a Medieval Latin formation. differentia comes from differō (“to differ”), a compound of dis- and ferō (“to carry”).

  22. disturbium

    1000

    It is from Latin disturbō (“to throw into disorder”). The DMLBS compares Anglo-Norman desturbe and Old French destorbe, and the GMLC Catalan destorb.

  23. elixir

    1000–1099

    It is borrowed from Arabic الإكسير (al-iksīr, “the philosopher's stone; healing powder”), which probably comes from Late Greek ξήριον (xḗrion, “powder for drying wounds”), from ξηρός (xērós, “dry”).

  24. foraneus

    1000–1099

    It is from Latin forās (“out of doors, outside”), formed on the model of extrāneus (“external, foreign”). Etymonline derives it from forīs (“outside”).

  25. hulca

    1000–1099

    The DMLBS takes it from Old English hulc and Middle English hulk, and Niermeyer and Köbler also call it Germanic; Köbler adds Proto-Germanic *hulka, which he glosses as perhaps “hollow”. The MLW…

  26. Russia

    1000–1099

    It is a Latinisation, made in the 11th century, from Old East Slavic Русь (Rusĭ). Köbler gives it as a variant of Ruscia and connects it with Ruscus. The DMLBS compares russus (“red”) and Old Norse…

  27. scaccus

    1000–1099

    It is borrowed from Arabic شَاه (šāh, “king (in chess)”), from Persian شاه (šāh, “king”). Köbler compares Old French eschac (“chess”).

All Latin words by century →