privilegium Latin · revision 7799

16 Oct 2026, 14:34 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
Initial text

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Twelve Tables|origins=la prīvus, la lēx}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [priː.wɪˈɫeː.ɡi.ũː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [pri.viˈlɛː.d͡ʒi.um]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''prīvilēgium''' ''n'' (genitive prīvilēgiī or prīvilēgī); second declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[prīvus]] “single, individual” and [[lēx]] “law”, with the suffix [[-ium]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's first source is the Twelve Tables, which he dates about 450 BC.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a law aimed at a single person, in Cicero's time against him, as Cicero says the ancients would not have laws passed against private persons, and later in his favour.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) From Seneca it meant a special right, prerogative, and in Ulpian a privileged claim.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a privilege, a private law, a special right granted by the legislator's goodwill.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for an area exempt from the diocesan bishop and for any charter.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in French ''privilège'', and [[en|privilege]] came in the mid-12th century, “a grant”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables forbid it.^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a law against an individual.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a prerogative.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-12th century – English ''privilege'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A law for or against one person.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A special right, [[m|en|privilege]], [[m|en|prerogative]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(law)'' A privileged claim.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An exempt area; a [[m|en|charter]].^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[prīvus]]
+ * [[lēx]]
+ * [[en|privilege]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}