sceleratus Latin · revision 30762

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *skel-os}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [skɛ.ɫɛˈraː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ʃe.leˈraː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scelerātus''' (feminine scelerāta, neuter scelerātum, comparative scelerātior, superlative scelerātissimus); first and second declension^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|scelus|-ātus|t1=crime, wickedness]].^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short and Wiktionary take it as the perfect passive participle of [[m|la|scelerō|t=to pollute, defile]], used as an adjective.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces the noun to [[itc-pro|*skelos]] and [[ine-pro|*skel-os|t=curve, bending]], cognate with [[grc|σκέλος|tr=skélos|t=leg]] and [[m|grc|σκολιός|tr=skoliós|t=crooked, unjust]]; this supposes a shift of meaning from “crooked” to “wicked”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, in the ''Epidicus'', says a pimp will bind “his accursed head” (''scelerātum caput suom'') by a bargain, of a hateful, criminal person.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Places that lay under a curse were ''scelerātus'', and several kept the word in their names: the ''vīcus scelerātus'' on the Esquiline, where Tullia drove her carriage over her father's body (Varro, Livy); the ''porta scelerāta'', a name of the Porta Carmentalis, through which the 306 Fabii marched out to their deaths; the ''campus scelerātus'' by the Colline gate, where Vestals who broke their vows were buried alive; the ''castra scelerāta'', the camp where Drusus died (Suetonius); and the ''sēdēs scelerāta'', the place of torment in the underworld (Tibullus).^(OLD 2012) Of people it meant ill-starred, and more often criminal, accursed for what they had done; poets also applied it to venomous animals and harmful forces.^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it of deeds, ''scelerātum nefāriumque latrōcinium'', “a wicked and impious robbery”, and Virgil once of the punishment of the guilty.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Used as a noun it is a criminal or villain.^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses it “defiled, polluted, profaned”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a criminal pimp.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro on the ''vīcus scelerātus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * c. 55–19/18 BC – Tibullus' ''sēdēs scelerāta'' in the underworld.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius on the ''castra scelerāta''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(of places)'' Lying under a ban, [[m|en|accursed]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of persons)'' Ill-starred, unfortunate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of persons)'' [[m|en|wicked]], heinously criminal;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''(of animals)'' noxious.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(of acts)'' Heinous, [[m|en|atrocious]], sinful.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Defiled, polluted, [[m|en|profane|alt=profaned]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|criminal]], [[m|en|villain]], wicked person.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scelus]]

+ * [[scelerōsus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes [[scelestus]], which refers to the mind (inclined to crime), from ''scelerātus'', which refers to deeds (stained with crime); that is why ''scelerātus'' is the epithet of things such as a gate, a field or a street.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}