culpa Latin · revision 18165

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkʊɫ.pa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkul.pa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''culpa''' ''f'' (genitive culpae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Priscian records an older spelling ''colpa''.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan tentatively reconstructs [[itc-pro|*kʷolpā-|t=wrong, mistake]], from [[ine-pro|*kʷolp-h₂-|t=bend, turn]]: if the word first meant a state of error rather than a single error, it may belong with [[gem-pro|*hwelf-a-|t=to wind, bend]] and [[m|ine-pro|*kʷelp-|t=to wind, turn]]: compare the history of English “wrong”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD calls it doubtful and compares [[osc|kulupu]].^(OLD 2012) L&S connected it with [[m|la|scelus|t=crime]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Compare [[grc|κόλπος|tr=kólpos|t=bosom, lap]], [[non|hvelfa|t=to vault, turn over]] and [[ang|hwealf|t=vault]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''nē posterius in mē culpam cōnferās'', “so that you do not put the blame on me later”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Culpa'' is responsibility for something wrong, “the blame”; the state of having done wrong, “guilt”, and a sense of guilt (Plautus: slaves who are free of guilt still fear punishment).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is also wrongdoing or a single offence, and an imperfection or defect, moral or otherwise.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) L&S describe it as a state that deserves punishment, as against ''[[dēlictum]]'' and ''[[peccātum]]'', the punishable acts.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Wiktionary notes its use for sexual misconduct.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “guilt, fault, error, sin, blame”, and the phrase ''meā culpā'' is “through my fault”.^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary) In Medieval Latin it is “fault, sin” and also a confession of guilt.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''nē posterius in mē culpam cōnferās''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of an offence and of moral faults.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – Used of a confession of guilt.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|blame]], responsibility (for something wrong).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|guilt]]; a sense of guilt.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # An offence, [[m|en|fault]], wrongdoing;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976) ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' [[m|en|sin]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # A defect, imperfection.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Sexual misconduct, unchastity.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A confession of guilt.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[culpō]]

+ * [[culpābilis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dēlictum]]

+ * [[peccātum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}