codicillus Latin · revision 31832

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cōdicillus''' ''m'' (genitive cōdicillī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Seneca has the form ''cōdicellus''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a diminutive [[af|la|cōdex|-illus|t1=tree trunk; book]],^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) the OLD giving the older form [[m|la|caudex]] as its base.^(OLD 2012) De Vaan derives [[m|la|caudex]] from the stem of [[m|la|cauda|t=tail]], going back to [[itc-pro|*kaudek-]] and [[ine-pro|*keh₂u-d-|t=cleaved, separate]]; ⟨cōdex⟩ is the younger form, used of books.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cato,^(Köbler 2010) who has it in its literal sense: “stack the small logs in a heap for the owner”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a small log it came, in the plural, to mean a set of writing tablets, as in Cicero's “he was writing your opinions in his tablets”, and a note or letter written on them.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Under the empire it is an emperor's rescript or written order, as in Tacitus, and also a petition to the emperor.^(OLD 2012) It is also a supplement to a will or other posthumous instructions, a codicil;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Tacitus has defamatory writings published under the title of codicils.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “appendix to a will, codicil, brief written note”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of small logs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of writing tablets and letters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of imperial rescripts, petitions and codicils.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|codicil]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small [[m|en|log]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' Writing [[m|en|tablet|alt=tablets]]; a note, letter.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An imperial [[m|en|rescript]]; a petition to the emperor.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|codicil]] to a will.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cōdicillāris]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[codex|alt=cōdex]]

+ * [[caudex]]

+ * [[en|codicil]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}