oppidum Latin · revision 5561
16 Oct 2026, 02:57 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=compound|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *ped-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɔp.pɪ.dũː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔp.pi.dum]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''oppidum''' ''n'' (genitive oppidī); second declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is usually analysed as [[ob]] with [[itc-pro|*pedo-|t=ground, place]], from [[ine-pro|*ped-o-|t=trodden, place]], the root of [[pēs]] “foot”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cognate with [[xum|peřum|t=ground]] and [[grc|πέδον|tr=pédon|t=ground]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan notes that Naevius used it both for a fort and for the barriers of the circus, and that “barriers” fits a link with “foot” better.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD calls it doubtful.^(OLD 2012) Isidore gives ancient guesses: from the walls set against enemies, or from the wealth stored there.^(Isidore)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius, who, according to Varro, called the starting barriers of the circus ''oppidum''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It was a town, especially an Italian or provincial town as opposed to Rome, the [[urbs]], as Plautus says any town can be taken by tricks.^(OLD 2012) Gaffiot stresses the sense of a fortified town, and in Caesar it is any fortified place.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ In medieval Latin it was a walled town, a fortress or castle, and in Britain a borough.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it for the barriers of the circus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says any town can be taken by trickery.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of any fortified place.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|town]] (as opposed to Rome).^(OLD 2012)
+ # A fortified town, a stronghold.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ # The starting barriers of the circus (in Naevius).^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A fortress, castle; a borough.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[oppidaneus]]
+ * [[oppidānus]]
+ * [[oppidātim]]
+ * [[oppidulum]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[urbs]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}