opificium Latin · revision 9739

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Varro|origins=la opus, la faciō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''opificium''' ''n'' (genitive opificiī or opificī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|opifex|-ium|t1=craftsman]], like [[officium]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) ⟨opifex⟩ is from [[m|la|opus|t=work]] and [[m|la|faciō|t=to make]].^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its earliest source is Varro's ''Rēs rūsticae'', of the work of bees.^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the performance of constructive work, a working, a work, and Lewis & Short call it ante- and post-classical.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it for a craft, a piece of work, a tool.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin used it for work, skill, craftsmanship of people and of nature.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The doing of a work, constructive work.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|craft]]; [[m|en|craftsmanship]]; a tool.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[opifex]]

+ * [[opus]]

+ * [[officium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}