cruciatus Latin · revision 30888

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cruciātus''' ''m'' (genitive cruciātūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|cruciō|t=to torture]] with the suffix [[m|la|-tus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The verb comes from [[m|la|crux|t=cross, gallows]], whose further origin is unclear: de Vaan compares Celtic words for “heap, hill” such as [[sga|crúach]] and Germanic words for “back” such as [[non|hryggr|t=backbone]], but finds the root shape not Indo-European.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan gives Plautus as its first author.^(de Vaan 2008) In the ''Curculio'' someone has said something ''cum cruciātū magnō tuō'', “to your own great torment”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the act of torturing, a form of torture or execution, and Apuleius uses it of an instrument of torture, a bundle of thorns tied to a donkey's tail.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is severe bodily pain, as Accius' veins steeped in poison that cause foul torments, and mental anguish: Cicero speaks of being racked by the torment of fear.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “torment, torture”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin, from ''crux'', it is also a crusader.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of torture.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of bodily pain.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius of an instrument of torture.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|torture|alt=Torture]]; an instrument of torture.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Severe pain, [[m|en|torment]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Mental anguish, [[m|en|agony]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|crusader]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cruciō]]

+ * [[crux]]

+ * [[excruciō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''cruciātus'', any pangs, natural or inflicted, from [[tormentum|alt=tormenta]], pains caused by an instrument such as the rack, Cicero says the executioners' tortures are not worse than the torments of disease.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}