gladiator Latin · revision 30736

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=la gladius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɡɫa.diˈaː.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ɡla.diˈaː.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gladiātor''' ''m'' (genitive gladiātōris, feminine gladiātrīx); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|gladius|-tor|t1=sword]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Wiktionary derives it from a verb ⟨gladiō⟩ or ⟨gladior⟩ “to use the sword”, known only indirectly from such derivatives;^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that no such verb is attested.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The ancients made the same link: Quintilian's declamations say the gladiator takes his name from the sword, and Priscian derives it through ⟨gladiātus⟩.^(TLL) For ⟨gladius⟩ de Vaan points to the British Celtic words for “sword”, [[cy|cleddyf]], [[kw|clethe]] and [[br|klezeff]], from ⟨*kladimo-⟩: given the imperfect match of the first consonant and the field of weaponry, Latin probably borrowed ⟨*gladio-⟩ or ⟨*kladio-⟩ from Celtic or from a third language.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato, in a speech: ''quam gladiātor disciplīnōsus'', “like a well-trained gladiator”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A ''gladiātor'' fought with the sword or other weapons for public entertainment;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis & Short list the related names of trainer and fighters, [[lanista]], [[murmillō|alt=mirmillō]], [[secūtor]], [[rētiārius]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In the plural it is a gladiatorial show: in the prologue to Terence's ''Hecyra'' a rumour spreads that gladiators are to be shown.^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it as an insult, ''sīcāriōs atque gladiātōrēs'', “assassins and cutthroats”, and the jurist Tarruntenus Paternus for a maker of swords.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it is a champion in a judicial duel, an executioner, a ruler's sword-bearer, a murderer or criminal, and a sword-cutler.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''gladiator'' dates from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of a well-trained gladiator.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of a gladiatorial show.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of cutthroats.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English [[m|en|gladiator]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|gladiator]], swordsman;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''(plural)'' a gladiatorial show.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A cutthroat, [[m|en|assassin]], ruffian.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A sword-maker.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|champion]] in single combat; an [[m|en|executioner]]; a sword-bearer.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gladiātōrius]]

+ * [[gladiātūra]]

+ * [[gladiātōriē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gladiolus]]

+ * [[gladius]]

+ * [[lanista]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}