mandatum Latin · revision 30805

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mandātum''' ''n'' (genitive mandātī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of the past participle of [[m|la|mandō|t=to order, entrust]] used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The OLD analyses the verb as [[m|la|manus|t=hand]] with a verb ⟨*dō⟩ “put” (as in [[m|la|abdō]]) that changed conjugation, so “to put into someone's hand”.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus: ''mandāta dīcam facta ut voluerit'', “I shall say his orders were carried out as he wished”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Mandātum'' is an order, instruction or commission given to someone, as envoys deliver their ''mandāta'' (Coelius Antipater) and Cicero sends men with letters and instructions.^(OLD 2012) Under the Empire it was also the emperor's directive to officials (Frontinus).^(OLD 2012) In law it was a consensual contract by which one party carried out a commission for another without pay.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Church Latin it is a command or mandate, a letter of credentials, and the washing of feet in the Maundy Thursday liturgy.^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary) Medieval Latin also used it for a district under a lord's coercive authority, for ecclesiastical obedience and for an exhortation.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|mandate]] (c. 1500) comes from it, partly through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''mandāta dīcam facta''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of envoys sent with letters and instructions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1500 – English [[m|en|mandate]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|order]], instruction, [[m|en|commission]], charge.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # An imperial directive.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(law)'' A contract of unpaid agency.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The washing of feet on [[m|en|Maundy Thursday]].^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A district under a lord's authority; ecclesiastical obedience; an exhortation.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mandō]]

+ * [[manus]]

+ * [[en|mandate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}