ducatus Latin · revision 10200
17 Oct 2026, 01:40 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Suetonius|origins=ine-pro *dewk-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [dʊˈkaː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [duˈkaː.tus]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''ducātus''' ''m'' (genitive ducātūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[af|la|dux|-ātus|t1=leader]], from [[dūcō]] “to lead”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces ⟨dūcō⟩ to [[itc-pro|*douk-e-]], from [[ine-pro|*dewk-e/o-|t=to draw]].^(de Vaan 2008)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's earliest source is Suetonius, and Lewis & Short and Gaffiot cite his ''Tiberius''.^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Suetonius c. 75–c. 150 AD.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ A post-Augustan word, it meant the position of a leader, military command, leadership, equivalent to [[grc|ἡγεμονία|tr=hēgemonía]], as in Suetonius and Florus, and Suetonius also has ''ducātūs et imperia lūdere'' “to play at commands and generals”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it means guidance, leadership.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for guidance, escort and safe-conduct, and Medieval Latin ''ducātus'' was also a duchy and a coin.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)^(Etymonline) English ''duchy'' (mid-14th century) and ''ducat'' (late 14th century) are from it through Old French.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of military command.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-14th century – English ''duchy'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ * late 14th century – English ''ducat'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # [[m|en|leadership|alt=Leadership]], military command.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Guidance; [[m|en|escort]], safe-conduct.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|duchy]]; a [[m|en|ducat]].^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[dux]]
+ * [[dūcō]]
+ * [[en|duchy]]
+ * [[en|ducat]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}