collega Latin · revision 3671

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=Plautus|origins=la lego}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kɔlˈleː.ɡa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kolˈlɛː.ɡa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''collēga''' ''m'' (genitive collēgae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|com-|lego|alt2=lēgō|t2=to appoint as deputy]], with the suffix [[m|la|-a]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Varro explains colleagues as those “chosen together”, and the TLL compares [[lex|alt=lēx]] “law” as well.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(Köbler 2010) who has a slave speak of a deed done by his colleague's courage and his own kindness.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its main sense was a colleague in a magistracy, as Ennius' Cethegus with Tuditanus as his colleague, and Cicero's “twice consuls together, colleagues in the censorship”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pericles' fellow general Sophocles is called his ''collega in praetura'' by Cicero.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ It was also used of any associate or fellow, as Cicero's “fellow in wisdom”, and of a comrade or accomplice.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) In Medieval Latin it also had a feminine, a fellow nun or companion.^(Köbler 2010) English ''colleague'' came from it through French in the 1530s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a fellow slave.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a colleague in office.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of colleagues in the censorship and praetorship.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1530s – English ''colleague'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|colleague]] (in office).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An associate, fellow, companion.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, feminine)'' A female companion; a fellow nun.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[collēgium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lēgō]]

+ * [[en|colleague]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}