atrium Latin · revision 3824

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈaː.tri.ũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.tri.um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ātrium''' ''n'' (genitive ātriī or ātrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is disputed.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists it under [[ater|alt=āter]] “black” as a derivative of [[m|itc-pro|*ātro-]], on the view that the room first held the fireplace and was blackened by its smoke; this view was already current in antiquity and has no independent support, but de Vaan sees no better one.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Georges 1913) Scaliger derived it from [[grc|αἴθριον|tr=aíthrion|t=open to the sky]], and Varro from the Etruscan town of Atria.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Wiktionary also mentions [[ett|𐌀𐌈𐌓𐌄|tr=aθre|t=house]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the first main room of a Roman house, with an opening in the roof, where callers were received.^(OLD 2012) Georges describes it as the smoke-blackened room of old Italian farmhouses that became the front hall of town houses.^(Georges 1913) In poetry the plural meant a whole house or palace, as Ovid's halls of Jupiter, and it was also a hall used for business, especially auctions.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Isidore says it was named for the three porticoes added to it, or, as others thought, from ''atrum'' “black”, because of the smoke of fire and lamp.^(Isidore) In medieval Latin it was the consecrated churchyard in front of or around a church.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) English ''atrium'' was borrowed in the 1570s for the entrance hall of a Roman house.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses the plural of the halls of Jupiter.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains the name.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1570s – English ''atrium'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The main front room of a Roman house, an [[m|en|atrium]], [[m|en|hall]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural, poetic)'' A house, a [[m|en|palace]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A hall for business, especially [[m|en|auction|alt=auctions]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A hall or court of a temple.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A churchyard.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[atriarius]]

+ * [[ātriolum]]

+ * [[ātriēnsis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Ātrius]]

+ * [[vestibulum]]

+ * [[ater]]

+ * [[en|atrium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}