crimen Latin · revision 5144

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *krey-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkriː.mɛn]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkriː.men]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''crīmen''' ''n'' (genitive crīminis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[af|la|cernō|-men|t1=to sift, decide]], a noun of the root of [[cernō|alt=cernere]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of ''cernō'' and reconstructs a neuter [[ine-pro|*(-)krei-mn̥|t=a sifting, decision]], from [[ine-pro|*krei-|t=to sift, separate]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Compare [[grc|κρῖμα|tr=krîma|t=judgment]].^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016) Brugmann and others separated it from both, but the TLL doubts this.^(TLL) Köbler mentions a root *ker- “to croak” as an alternative.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who wishes that people who spread and listen to accusations might all be hanged.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was an indictment, charge or accusation, and Lewis and Short take the original meaning to have been a judicial decision, like Greek ''krîma''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From the charge it passed to a matter for blame or reproach, and in phrases like ''in crīmen venīre'' “to come under accusation”.^(OLD 2012) Only later, from Ovid onwards, did it become the misdeed itself, a crime.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Isidore derived it from ''carēre'', “to lack”, for offences that do not kill but bring disgrace.^(Isidore) In Christian and medieval Latin it was a sin, and a reason for rejecting a witness.^(Niermeyer 1976) Old French ''crimne'' “crime, mortal sin” gave [[en|crime]] in the 13th century, at first “sinfulness”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the rebuttal of a charge.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of a misdeed, a crime.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-13th century – English ''crime'' “sinfulness” is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A charge, [[m|en|accusation]], indictment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A matter for blame, a reproach, ''in crīmen venīre'', to be accused.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A misdeed, [[m|en|crime]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A [[m|en|sin]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A reason for ruling out a witness.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[crīminālis]]

+ * [[crīminōsus]]

+ * [[discrīmen]]

+ * [[crīminor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crīmināliter]]

+ * [[crīminātiō]]

+ * [[crīminātor]]

+ * [[crīminātrix]]

+ * [[crīminō]]

+ * [[crīminōsē]]

+ * [[cernō]]

+ * [[en|crime]]

+ * [[en|criminal]]

+ * [[en|discriminate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore says that ''crīmen'' takes its name from ''carendō'', as theft and forgery, which do not kill but disgrace.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}