principium Latin · revision 7130

16 Oct 2026, 13:16 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)”
Initial text

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Ennius|origins=la prīnceps}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [priːŋˈkɪ.pi.ũː], [prɪŋˈkɪ.pi.ũː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [prin̠ʲˈt͡ʃiː.pi.um]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''prī̆ncipium''' ''n'' (genitive prī̆ncipiī or prī̆ncipī); second declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[prīnceps]] “first, foremost” with the suffix [[-ium]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) Isidore applies it to the Son of God, because all things are from him and nothing before him.^(Isidore)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC, and the OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus and Ennius.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a beginning, start, ''principium capere'' to begin, ''in principiō'' at first, and the point of time at which something begins, as Cicero's ''nec prīncipium nec fīnem habēre'' “to have neither beginning nor end”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant an origin, the first part of a thing, the source of a river, and the opening of a speech or book, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012) In philosophy the plural meant first elements of matter, and it also meant a primary cause, a guiding principle, and a premiss, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) In military language the ''prīncipia'' were the headquarters of a camp, and the second line of battle.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''initium'' is the beginning as a mere starting point, opposed to ''exitus''.^(Döderlein 1874)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant beginning, source, foundation, principality, origin, principle.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it of a master's inauguration.^(Niermeyer 1976) Through Anglo-French it gave [[en|principle]] in the late 14th century, first “origin, source”.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a primary cause.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a beginning.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of principles and of headquarters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''principle'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A beginning, start, ''in principiō'', at first.^(OLD 2012)
+ # An origin, source.^(OLD 2012)
+ # The first part; the opening of a speech.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(philosophy)'' First elements; a primary cause.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A [[m|en|principle]], basis; a premiss.^(OLD 2012)
+ # First place, precedence.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(military, plural)'' [[m|en|Headquarters]]; the second line.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[prī̆ncipiālis]]
+ * [[postprincipium]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[prīnceps]]
+ * [[initium]]
+ * [[exordium]]
+ * [[en|principle]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}