congiarium Latin · revision 32245

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=la congius}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''congiārium''' ''n'' (genitive congiāriī or congiārī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Augustus' ''Res Gestae'' has the genitive ''congiārī'', and the ''Notae Tironianae'' the form ''condiārium''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[m|la|congiārius|t=of a congius]], used as a noun, from [[m|la|congius]], a liquid measure of six sextarii.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The OLD compares [[grc|κόγχος|tr=kónkhos|t=mussel shell]], and Wiktionary derives [[m|la|congius]] from [[m|grc|κογχίον|tr=konkhíon]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Isidore wrote that the money given as a favour was called by this name after the measure, because each emperor tried to win the people's favour by being more generous.^(Isidore)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Varro.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's first example is Cicero's ''Philippics'', of a man who had won over the ignorant crowd with shows, monuments, largesses and banquets.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Originally it was a congius of oil, wine or other goods given as a gift, and then a gift of money distributed to the people, as Tacitus' ''Dialogue'' speaks of the most recent distribution of largess.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In a letter Cicero uses it of any gift or donation, of someone's greed and hope of a big present.^(OLD 2012) The jurist Paulus uses it of a vessel holding one congius.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of largesses to the crowd and of a gift.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of a distribution of largess.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * first half of the 3rd century AD – Paulus of a vessel holding one congius.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A gift of oil, wine or money, originally one congius, distributed to the people; a [[m|en|largess]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A gift, [[m|en|donation]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A vessel holding one [[congius]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[congius]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}