theatrum Latin · revision 7497

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Naevius|origins=grc θεάομαι}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [tʰeˈaː.trũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [teˈaː.trum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''theātrum''' ''n'' (genitive theātrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|θέατρον|tr=théatron|t=place for viewing]], from [[m|grc|θεάομαι|tr=theáomai|t=to watch]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) An inscription has ⟨teatr-⟩.^(OLD 2012) Isidore says it is named from watching, because the people standing above looked on at the plays.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of a theatre.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a theatre, a place for watching plays, also used in Greek cities for public meetings, and by metonymy the audience, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) From Cicero it also meant a stage on which one's qualities are shown in public.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a theatre or show.^(Stelten 1995) In British Medieval Latin it also meant a stage or platform.^(DMLBS) [[en|theater]] came in the late 14th century, through Old French and directly from Latin, first of the ancient open-air theatres.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of a theatre.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the audience and of a public stage.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''theater'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|theatre]]; a place of public assembly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The audience in a theatre.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A public stage for one's qualities.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[theātrālis]]

+ * [[theātricus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scaena]]

+ * [[en|theater]]

+ * [[en|theatre]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}