publicum Latin · revision 30726

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la populus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pūblicum''' ''n'' (genitive pūblicī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus has the old ablative ''poplicod'', “in public”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[m|la|pūblicus|t=of the people, public]], used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains that the adjective was originally ⟨*popliko-⟩, formed from [[m|la|populus|t=people]], as the Old Latin spellings ⟨poplicod⟩ and ⟨poblicai⟩ show; its ⟨ū⟩ came from [[m|la|pūbēs|t=adult]], with which it was later associated.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Trinummus'', of people who hold everything alike, ''sacrum profānum, pūblicum prīvātum'', “sacred and profane, public and private”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Pūblicum'' is public property, with ''in pūblicum'' “into public ownership”, public land, and ''in pūblicō'' “in state custody” (Cicero).^(OLD 2012) It is the public purse (Plautus: ''rapere cupiō pūblicum'', “I want to rob the treasury”), state revenue, and the farming of taxes and public works under contract.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It also means the public interest and, in the plural, public affairs (Seneca).^(OLD 2012) As the parts of a town open to all, it gives ''in pūblicō'' “in public, in the open”: Cicero says Clodius stayed out of the senate and out of public places.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary adds the public road, the public at large and the commonwealth;^(Wiktionary) Köbler records it again in Gregory of Tours.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of public property and the public purse.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''in pūblicō'' of custody and of public places.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 538/539–594 AD – Gregory of Tours uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Public property, state property; public land.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The public purse, [[m|en|treasury]]; state revenue.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The public interest;^(OLD 2012) ''(plural)'' public affairs.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A contract for collecting taxes or doing public works.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Public places;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''in pūblicō'', in public; a public road.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The public; [[m|en|publicity]]; the [[m|en|commonwealth]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pūblicē]]

+ * [[pūblicus]]

+ * [[populus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}