commilitium Latin · revision 36536

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=43 BC–18 AD, Ovid|origins=la mīles}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kɔm.miːˈlɪ.ti.ũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [kom.miˈlit.t͡si.um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''commīlitium''' ''n'' (genitive commīlitiī or commīlitī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|con-|mīles|-ium|t1=together|t2=soldier]],^(Wiktionary)^(Georges 1913) or, as the OLD puts it, from [[m|la|commīles|t=fellow soldier]] with the suffix ⟨-ium⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) De Vaan calls the first element of [[m|la|mīles]] unclear, though he finds a link with [[m|la|mīlle|alt=mīlia|t=thousands]] tempting.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Ovid,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it of the [[m|en|fellowship]] of poets;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis and Short think it probably not used before the Augustan period.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its proper sense was [[m|en|comradeship]] in war, association in military service: it is used by Velleius Paterculus, Quintilian, Tacitus, Florus, Justin and Pliny the Younger.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Quintilian says of someone that he had served with Thessalians, and Tacitus has the Chauci taken into the alliance in arms.^(Conte 2010)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ The transferred sense of fellowship in general is rare:^(Lewis & Short 1879) besides Ovid's sacred bond of poets, Manilius has it, and Apuleius speaks of a friendship begun in a fellowship of studies.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) In British medieval Latin William of Malmesbury used it collectively for a body of [[m|en|knights]], a retinue.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of the fellowship of poets.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius Paterculus uses it of comradeship in war.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of serving alongside Thessalians.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of taking the Chauci into alliance.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius speaks of a fellowship of studies.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Association in [[m|en|military service]], [[m|en|comradeship]] in war.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(transferred)'' Fellowship in other activities.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|knighthood|alt=Knighthood]] as a body, a retinue of knights.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[commīlitō]]

+ * [[mīlitia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}