aedituus Latin · revision 36482

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la aedēs}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aedituus''' ''m'' (genitive aedituī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The Acts of the Arval Brothers have the accusative ''aedituon'', and an inscription the genitive plural ''aedituom''.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|aeditumus|t=temple keeper]], the older form, through the loss of its ⟨m⟩,^(Georges 1913)^(OLD 2012) and was the commoner form in everyday speech.^(Georges 1913) The OLD analyses [[m|la|aeditumus|alt=aeditumus]] as a derivative of [[m|la|aedēs|t=temple]] with the suffix [[m|la|-timus]],^(OLD 2012) and de Vaan lists both forms among the derivatives of that noun.^(de Vaan 2008) Lewis & Short and Wiktionary instead take the word as a compound of [[m|la|aedēs|alt=aedis]] and [[m|la|tueor|t=to watch over]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The Romans themselves connected it with guarding: Varro derives the older form from guarding the temple,^(Varro) and Gellius calls the keeper ''aedituus'' as if named from looking after temples.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has it first, in the ''Curculio'', for the [[m|en|keeper]] of a [[m|en|temple]].^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Varro rejected the form ''aedituus'' in favour of ''aeditumus'',^(Georges 1913) but it became general in the written language from Livy on.^(Georges 1913) The keepers also showed visitors round the temple, so Horace calls the poets the ''aeditui'' of virtue, those who display its worth.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In the Vulgate the plural means priests or ministers of a sanctuary,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for a [[m|en|sacristan]], caretaker or warden.^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary) Medieval sources use it for a custodian in a house of canons, a sexton, and once a [[m|en|herald]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for a temple keeper.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro rejects this form for ''aeditumus''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero has temple keepers in the ''Verrines''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace calls poets the keepers of virtue's temple.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius discusses the form.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it for ministers of the sanctuary.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – It names a sacristan or sexton.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|keeper]] of a [[m|en|temple]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(figurative)'' One who shows off the worth of something, as a temple keeper shows a temple.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A priest or minister of a sanctuary; a [[m|en|sacristan]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A custodian in a house of canons; a [[m|en|sexton]]; a herald.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aeditua]]

+ * [[aedituālis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}