ritus Latin · revision 5524

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂rey-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈriː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈriː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''rītus''' ''m'' (genitive rītūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*reitu-|t=rite]], from the root [[ine-pro|*h₂rey-|t=to count, observe carefully]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[grc|ἀριθμός|tr=arithmós|t=number]] and [[sga|rím|t=number]], and perhaps [[sa|ऋत|tr=ṛtá|t=sacred order]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The ablative [[rīte]] “duly” may point to an older ''i''-stem.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, and Köbler from Lucretius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) An early inscription orders that the customary rites should not be interrupted.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a religious observance, rite or ceremony, usually in the plural.^(OLD 2012) The ablative with a genitive, ''rītū'', meant “in the manner of, like”, as ''pecudum rītū'' “like cattle” in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In a general sense it was a custom or usage, and Festus glosses it as ''mōs vel cōnsuētūdō''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Medieval writers used it of Christian, Jewish and pagan rites, and of a religion as a whole.^(DMLBS) [[en|rite]] came from it in the early 14th century and [[rītuālis]] gave [[en|ritual]] in the 1560s.^(Etymonline) It survives in [[it|rito]] and [[es|rito]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English ''rite'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – English ''ritual'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A religious [[m|en|rite]], ceremony, observance.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''rītū'' (with genitive), in the manner of, like.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A custom, usage.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A religion.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rīte]]

+ * [[rītuālis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|rite]]

+ * [[en|ritual]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes [[cōnsuētūdō]], custom from habit or convenience, [[mōs]], custom grounded in moral sense, and ''rītus'', a hallowed observance with no human origin.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}