militia Latin · revision 8336

16 Oct 2026, 16:02 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
Initial text

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la mīles}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [miːˈlɪ.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [miˈlit.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''mīlitia''' ''f'' (genitive mīlitiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+ A form ''mīlitiēs'' also occurs.^(OLD 2012)^(DMLBS)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[mīles]] “soldier” with the suffix [[-ia]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Isidore derives it from ⟨mīlitēs⟩, or fancifully from ⟨multī⟩ or ⟨mōlēs⟩.^(Isidore)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of military service.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant military service, as in Plautus, and in Cicero a campaign; the locative ''mīlitiae'' meant in the field, at war.^(OLD 2012)^(DMLBS) In Pliny ''mīlitia equestris'' was a term as a cavalry officer, and in Livy it meant soldiers collectively, the military organization.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ Medieval Latin used it for help, wages, ''saeculāris mīlitia'' the secular career, an office, especially at court, vassal service, and the status of a knight.^(Niermeyer 1976) Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for military service, the army, and employment at court.^(Stelten 1995) It survives in Italian ''milizia'', French ''milice'' and Spanish ''milicia'', and [[en|militia]] is recorded from the 1580s, first “military discipline”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of service.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of soldiers collectively.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 1580s – English ''militia'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Military service, ''mīlitiae'', in the field.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A campaign.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A cavalry command.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Soldiers; the [[m|en|military]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An office at court; vassal service; [[m|en|knighthood]].^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[militiola]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[mīles]]
+ * [[mīlitāris]]
+ * [[mīlitāriter]]
+ * [[mīlitārius]]
+ * [[mīlitō]]
+ * [[en|militia]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}