bibliotheca Latin · revision 36294

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [bɪ.bli.ɔˈtʰeː.ka]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [bi.bli.oˈtɛː.ka]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bibliothēca''' ''f'' (genitive bibliothēcae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Cicero once uses the Greek form ''bibliothēcē'', accusative ''bibliothēcēn''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ The spelling ''bybliothēca'' is frequent in inscriptions of the classical period and in manuscripts, though ''bibli-'' prevails in inscriptions.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|βιβλιοθήκη|tr=bibliothḗkē|t=library]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) The Greek word is a compound of [[m|grc|βιβλίον|tr=biblíon|t=small book]] and [[m|grc|θήκη|tr=thḗkē|t=case, repository]];^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) [[m|grc|βίβλος|tr=bíblos|t=papyrus bark; book]] is named after the Phoenician city of Byblos, the main market for papyrus.^(Köbler 2010) Isidore of Seville already explained the name from the Greek words for “book” and “repository”.^(Isidore)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Cicero, both for the room where books are kept, in which he shuts himself up or in which he saw Cato sitting, and for a collection of books, as when he uses some books from the library of Lucullus.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it meant both a library room and a collection of books, as in Greek.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Georges also records the sense of a bookcase or set of shelves, in the jurists and Pliny the Younger.^(Georges 1913) Rome's first public library was founded by Asinius Pollio, and others followed, such as those in the temple of Peace and the temple of Trajan, which Gellius names.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The person in charge of a library was called ''a bibliothēcā''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it remained the place where writings were kept, sometimes an archive, and the collection itself.^(MLW)^(DMLBS) It was also used of the Scriptures, the books of both Testaments bound as one volume, a sense found in Aldhelm.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)^(DMLBS) Alcuin notes that the volume properly called a pandect was by many called ''bibliothēca''.^(DMLBS) British writers also used it for a book cover.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for a library room and for a collection of books.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder records the library founded by Asinius Pollio as the first public library at Rome.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius mentions the libraries of the temple of Trajan and of the temple of Peace.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville explains the name as a place where books are stored.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it of the Scriptures.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st third of the 8th century – Bede writes of a large and very noble library being assembled.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|library]], a collection of books or the room or building that holds it.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A [[m|en|bookcase]] or set of shelves for books.^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''a bibliothēcā'', the person in charge of a library, a [[m|en|librarian]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An [[m|en|archive]] or place where documents are kept.^(MLW)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The [[m|en|Bible]], the Scriptures.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A book cover.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|bibliotheca]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}