princeps Latin · revision 6427

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Ennius|origins=la prīmus, la capiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpriːŋ.kɛps], [ˈprɪŋ.kɛps]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprin̠ʲ.t͡ʃeps]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prī̆nceps''' ''m'' or f (genitive prī̆ncipis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[prīmus]] “first” and [[-ceps|t=taking]], from [[capiō]] “to take”: one who takes the first place.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Compare the Old English cognate of ''prīmus'', [[ang|fruma|t=chief, prince]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adjective it meant first in time, earliest, as Cicero's man first in danger, taking the front position, original, and first in rank, chief, most distinguished.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) As a noun it meant an originator, founder, a master in some field, and a leading man, chief, especially a leading citizen, as in Cicero; the ''prīnceps senātūs'' headed the senate's list.^(OLD 2012) It meant the person in charge, a leader, and the ''prīnceps iuventūtis'', a title of young imperial princes.^(OLD 2012) Augustus adopted ''prīnceps'' as his title, stressing the civilian nature of his rule, and it came to mean emperor, as in Horace.^(OLD 2012) In the army the ''prīncipēs'' were a class of legionaries, and a ''prīnceps'' a centurion, as in Caesar.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says [[prīmus]] is first in place or time, ''prīnceps'' first in action, whom others follow.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant a king, the mayor of the palace, a court dignitary, and in Christian Latin ''prīncipēs sacerdōtum'' were the chief priests.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995) It survives in Italian ''principe'' and French ''prince''.^(Wiktionary) [[en|prince]] came through Old French about 1200, and [[en|principle]] from its derivative [[prīncipium]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of leading citizens and of the head of the senate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of Augustus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''prince'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An originator, founder.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A leading man, chief; a leading citizen.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''prīnceps senātūs'', the leader of the senate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A leader, head.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(imperial)'' The emperor, ''prīnceps iuventūtis'', a title of imperial princes.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(military)'' A soldier of the second line; a centurion.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|prince]], king.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # First, earliest; leading.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Chief, most distinguished.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prīncipālis]]

+ * [[prī̆ncipium]]

+ * [[prī̆ncipātus]]

+ * [[prī̆ncipiō]]

+ * [[prī̆ncipissa]]

+ * [[prī̆ncipor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prīmus]]

+ * [[capiō]]

+ * [[en|prince]]

+ * [[en|principle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}