modulatio Latin · revision 34513

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 84–c. 25 BC, Vitruvius|origins=la modus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [mɔ.dʊˈɫaː.ti.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [mo.duˈlat.t͡si.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''modulātiō''' ''f'' (genitive modulātiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|modulor|-tiō|t1=to measure, regulate]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The verb is formed from [[m|la|modulus|t=small measure]],^(Wiktionary) which de Vaan lists from Varro on among the derivatives of [[m|la|modus|t=measure]];^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) Augustine already derived the noun from [[m|la|modus]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|modus]] to [[itc-pro|*medo-|t=measure, judgement]] and [[ine-pro|*med-o-|t=measure]], comparing [[xum|meřs|t=law]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Vitruvius,^(Köbler 2010)^(TLL) who writes that there are three kinds of ''modulationes'' in music, which the Greeks call harmonic, chromatic and diatonic.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Vitruvius uses it both of the musical modulation of tones and of calculating the measurements of a building from a standard unit.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short call it post-Augustan in its general sense of a regular measure, as in Gellius' ''modulatio incedendi'', marching in time.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Quintilian applies it to rhythm, to the scansion of syllables and to the melody of the voice.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The TLL notes that it is found from Vitruvius and both Senecas on but that poets avoid it, except Ausonius and Martianus Capella;^(TLL) Augustine said that the word almost contains the definition of music.^(TLL) In Ecclesiastical Latin it means melody, singing or chanting,^(Stelten 1995) and in medieval Latin melody.^(Niermeyer 1976) English took ''modulation'' from it in the late 14th century, partly through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of musical modulation and of measurements.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of rhythm and of the melody of the voice.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of marching in time.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 354–430 AD – Augustine derives it from ''modus'' and treats it as the essence of music.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows ''modulation''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A regular measure; [[m|en|rhythm]], rhythmical measure.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Inflection of tone, [[m|en|modulation]]; [[m|en|melody]], singing and playing.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Calculation of measurements from a standard unit.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|modulation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}