altar Latin · revision 31577

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=220–130 BC, Pacuvius|origins=la adoleō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈaɫ.tar]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈal.tar]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''altar''' ''n'' (genitive altāris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Older and classical writers use only the plural ''altāria'', ''-ium'', also for a single altar.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+ Singular forms appear from Petronius on: ''altāre'' (Festus, Isidore), ''altar'' (Prudentius) and ''altārium'' (an inscription, Jerome), with the ablative ''altārī'' in Petronius and the Vulgate.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan, following Schrijver, derives it from ⟨*alto-⟩ “fed”, an old participle belonging with [[adoleō|t=to burn as an offering]], with the suffix [[m|la|-ālis]] dissimilated to [[m|la|-āris]] after the ⟨l⟩ of the root; the altar was where the fire was “fed”.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD also compares ⟨adoleō⟩.^(OLD 2012) The TLL takes it rather from [[altus|t=high]], and Köbler and Wiktionary give both explanations.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Pacuvius,^(Köbler 2010) who uses the plural for burnt offerings: someone prolongs life “with lifeless offerings”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is an altar for burnt offerings, often not distinguishable from [[āra]].^(OLD 2012) Cicero reproaches Catiline with the silver eagle at whose altars he had often turned his impious hand to the murder of citizens, and Curtius describes the Persians' sacred fire carried before them on silver altars.^(OLD 2012) The grammarian Phocas lists it among words without a singular.^(TLL)

+

+ In Christian Latin it is the altar of a church,^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976) and in Medieval Latin also the chancel or choir around it, a side chapel, and the parish revenues that came from the altar.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of burnt offerings.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of Catiline's altars.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius has the singular.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate has the ablative ''altārī''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius has the singular ''altar''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|altar]] for burnt offerings.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' Burnt offerings.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The altar of a church.^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The chancel, [[m|en|choir]]; a side chapel; the revenues of an altar.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[adoleō]]

+ * [[āra]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}