cisterna Latin · revision 37016

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=grc κίστη}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kɪsˈtɛr.na]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [t͡ʃisˈtɛr.na]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cisterna''' ''f'' (genitive cisternae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|cista|-erna|t1=box, chest]], with the ending of [[m|la|caverna|t=cave]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The base is a borrowing of [[grc|κίστη|tr=kístē|t=box]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The TLL thinks that [[xum|cisterno]] “cistern” was borrowed from Latin.^(TLL) Festus, as reported in the TLL, connected the name with [[m|la|cis|t=on this side of]] and [[m|la|terra|t=earth]].^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Varro's ''On Agriculture'',^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) who advises that where there is no running water, cisterns should be made under cover.^(TLL)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was an underground or sunken tank for storing water, mostly rainwater: Tacitus describes pools and cisterns for keeping rain (''piscinae cisternaeque servandis imbribus''),^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) and Ulpian notes that a cistern has no living water of its own but is filled by rain.^(TLL) The Digest also mentions a cistern for keeping wine.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In Ecclesiastical Latin it can be a pit or ditch.^(Stelten 1995) British medieval sources use it for a cistern or water tank, a vat or trough, and a cave.^(DMLBS)

+

+ English ''cistern'' (mid-13th century) came from it through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro recommends cisterns for farms without running water.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus mentions cisterns kept for rainwater.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 223 AD – Ulpian notes that a cistern is filled by rain.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-13th century – English borrows it, through Old French, as ''cistern''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An underground or sunken tank for storing water, a [[m|en|cistern]], [[m|en|reservoir]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A tank for keeping wine.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A pit, [[m|en|ditch]].^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A vat or [[m|en|trough]]; a cave.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cisternīnus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|cistern]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}