Etymologically
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zodiacus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [zoːˈdi.a.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [d͡zoˈdiː.a.kus][1]

Forms

zōdiacus (feminine zōdiaca, neuter zōdiacum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ζῳδιακός (zōidiakós, “of the signs”), with κύκλος (kúklos, “circle”) understood,[1][2] from ζῴδιον (zṓidion, “small figure; sign of the zodiac”), a diminutive of ζῷον (zôion, “animal”).[3] The native Latin term was orbis signifer, the sign-bearing circle.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it in his translation of Aratus.[4][6] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[7]

Semantic evolution

It was the zodiac, as a noun or with orbis or circulus, the circle of the twelve signs through which the sun passes.[2][6] Gellius uses it, and Censorinus says the Greeks call the signifer the zodiac.[4][5] As an adjective, of the zodiac, it appears in Sidonius and Martianus Capella.[4][6] Isidore describes the zodiac circle in his chapters on astronomy.[8]

Medieval writers used it of the belt of the heavens centred on the sun's path.[9] English zodiac is recorded in the late 14th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in his Aratus.[4][7]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it.[4][7]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore describes the zodiac.[8][7]
  • late 14th century – English zodiac is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The zodiac.[2][1]

Adjective

  1. Of the zodiac.[4][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  9. ^ 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