ergastulum Latin · revision 33924

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=grc ἐργαστήριον}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɛrˈɡas.tʊ.ɫũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [erˈɡas.tu.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ergastulum''' ''n'' (genitive ergastulī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[bor|grc|ἐργαστήριον|tr=ergastḗrion|t=workshop]], adapted to Latin, as the OLD has it;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) Wiktionary and Köbler also call that origin probable.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) The TLL reports this view of Walde and Hofmann and notes that Leumann explained the form differently.^(TLL) Lewis & Short derive it from the Greek verb [[m|grc|ἐργάζομαι|tr=ergázomai|t=to work]],^(Lewis & Short 1879) the source of the Greek noun.^(Wiktionary) Döderlein gives the same verb or [[m|grc|εἴργω|tr=eírgō|t=to shut in]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it in the speeches for Cluentius and for Rabirius.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis & Short also quote a masculine ''ergastulus'', the overseer of such a house, from Lucilius.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a prison on a large estate, where slaves who were unruly or not to be trusted were sent to work in chains;^(OLD 2012) Columella, Livy and Suetonius use it.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein contrasts it with ''carcer'', the part of the prison meant for citizens: the ''ergastulum'' was the house of correction for slaves.^(Döderlein 1874) In the plural it also means the inmates, a gang of slaves from such a prison: Caesar, Brutus in a letter to Cicero, Pliny the Elder and Florus use it so,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) and the elder Seneca speaks of rich men who work their empty lands with gangs of freeborn men.^(OLD 2012) The Vulgate has it in Exodus.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Stelten gives "prison, workhouse" for Church Latin,^(Stelten 1995) and Niermeyer a strong-room in Medieval Latin.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius has the masculine ''ergastulus'' for the overseer.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the slave prison.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of its inmates.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate, in Exodus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A prison on a large estate, where unruly slaves were sent to work in [[m|en|chain gang|alt=chain gangs]]; a [[m|en|workhouse]], house of correction.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(chiefly plural)'' The inmates of such a prison, a gang of [[m|en|slave|alt=slaves]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A strong-room.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ergastularis]]

+ * [[ergastulārius]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}