Is 'datus' used for a date in Latin?












6














In many languages the word for date (a specific day, such as January 2, 2019) seems to come from the Latin participle datus: we have the English "date", the Italian "data", the Swedish "datum", and others.
Do these words come from a Latin phrase such as dies datus/data?
If yes, when is it attested?
Latin origin seems evident, but I wonder whether it is classical or a later development.










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  • 2




    FWIW, the dates of letters in Latin (at least contemporarily) use the participle: datae Romae, dies N... (or datus if it is a decree, for example)
    – Rafael
    9 hours ago












  • @Rafael Interesting! So the participle refers to the letter/decree/document, not the date itself? I read that as "given in Rome". I had imagined the participle would refer to dies in the Latin precursor to "date", but it doesn't have to be so.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    7 hours ago










  • I coudn't say, but I have always had that impression
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    Interesting searches: datum Romae and data Romae maybe I was wrong about datae, specifically. There is also a number of occurrences of datis Romae
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago


















6














In many languages the word for date (a specific day, such as January 2, 2019) seems to come from the Latin participle datus: we have the English "date", the Italian "data", the Swedish "datum", and others.
Do these words come from a Latin phrase such as dies datus/data?
If yes, when is it attested?
Latin origin seems evident, but I wonder whether it is classical or a later development.










share|improve this question


















  • 2




    FWIW, the dates of letters in Latin (at least contemporarily) use the participle: datae Romae, dies N... (or datus if it is a decree, for example)
    – Rafael
    9 hours ago












  • @Rafael Interesting! So the participle refers to the letter/decree/document, not the date itself? I read that as "given in Rome". I had imagined the participle would refer to dies in the Latin precursor to "date", but it doesn't have to be so.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    7 hours ago










  • I coudn't say, but I have always had that impression
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    Interesting searches: datum Romae and data Romae maybe I was wrong about datae, specifically. There is also a number of occurrences of datis Romae
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago
















6












6








6







In many languages the word for date (a specific day, such as January 2, 2019) seems to come from the Latin participle datus: we have the English "date", the Italian "data", the Swedish "datum", and others.
Do these words come from a Latin phrase such as dies datus/data?
If yes, when is it attested?
Latin origin seems evident, but I wonder whether it is classical or a later development.










share|improve this question













In many languages the word for date (a specific day, such as January 2, 2019) seems to come from the Latin participle datus: we have the English "date", the Italian "data", the Swedish "datum", and others.
Do these words come from a Latin phrase such as dies datus/data?
If yes, when is it attested?
Latin origin seems evident, but I wonder whether it is classical or a later development.







etymologia time calendarium






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 9 hours ago









Joonas Ilmavirta

45.7k1058262




45.7k1058262








  • 2




    FWIW, the dates of letters in Latin (at least contemporarily) use the participle: datae Romae, dies N... (or datus if it is a decree, for example)
    – Rafael
    9 hours ago












  • @Rafael Interesting! So the participle refers to the letter/decree/document, not the date itself? I read that as "given in Rome". I had imagined the participle would refer to dies in the Latin precursor to "date", but it doesn't have to be so.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    7 hours ago










  • I coudn't say, but I have always had that impression
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    Interesting searches: datum Romae and data Romae maybe I was wrong about datae, specifically. There is also a number of occurrences of datis Romae
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago
















  • 2




    FWIW, the dates of letters in Latin (at least contemporarily) use the participle: datae Romae, dies N... (or datus if it is a decree, for example)
    – Rafael
    9 hours ago












  • @Rafael Interesting! So the participle refers to the letter/decree/document, not the date itself? I read that as "given in Rome". I had imagined the participle would refer to dies in the Latin precursor to "date", but it doesn't have to be so.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    7 hours ago










  • I coudn't say, but I have always had that impression
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    Interesting searches: datum Romae and data Romae maybe I was wrong about datae, specifically. There is also a number of occurrences of datis Romae
    – Rafael
    6 hours ago










2




2




FWIW, the dates of letters in Latin (at least contemporarily) use the participle: datae Romae, dies N... (or datus if it is a decree, for example)
– Rafael
9 hours ago






FWIW, the dates of letters in Latin (at least contemporarily) use the participle: datae Romae, dies N... (or datus if it is a decree, for example)
– Rafael
9 hours ago














@Rafael Interesting! So the participle refers to the letter/decree/document, not the date itself? I read that as "given in Rome". I had imagined the participle would refer to dies in the Latin precursor to "date", but it doesn't have to be so.
– Joonas Ilmavirta
7 hours ago




@Rafael Interesting! So the participle refers to the letter/decree/document, not the date itself? I read that as "given in Rome". I had imagined the participle would refer to dies in the Latin precursor to "date", but it doesn't have to be so.
– Joonas Ilmavirta
7 hours ago












I coudn't say, but I have always had that impression
– Rafael
6 hours ago




I coudn't say, but I have always had that impression
– Rafael
6 hours ago




1




1




Interesting searches: datum Romae and data Romae maybe I was wrong about datae, specifically. There is also a number of occurrences of datis Romae
– Rafael
6 hours ago






Interesting searches: datum Romae and data Romae maybe I was wrong about datae, specifically. There is also a number of occurrences of datis Romae
– Rafael
6 hours ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5














For reference, this is what the OED has to say:




Etymology: < Anglo-Norman dat, Anglo-Norman and Middle French date
(Middle French datte ; French date ) regnal year (1230 or earlier),
date (specified on a document) (1281 in Old French), date (more
generally) (1314 or earlier) < post-classical Latin data (6th cent.;
frequently from 11th cent. in British sources), use as noun (see note)
of feminine singular of datus , past participle of dare to give (see
datum n.). In classical Latin, the date of a letter was expressed by a
phrase such as data xiiii K. Maias de Tarentino ‘(letter) sent from
Tarentum on 18th April’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus 3. 6. 1), litteras
datas a litoribus Britanniae proximis a. d. vi Kal. Octobr. ‘letter
sent from the nearest shores of Britain on 26th September’ (Cicero
Letters to Atticus 4. 18 . 5), litterarum datarum dies prid. Kal. Ian.
‘the day of a letter sent on 31st December’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus
6. 1. 2). Hence data , the first word of the formula, came to be used as a term for the time and place stated therein. Compare Catalan data
(14th cent.), Spanish †data (mid 13th cent.), Portuguese data (13th
cent.), Italian data (a1556). Compare also (after similar dating
formulae in post-classical Latin using the neuter singular datum (13th
cent.)) Middle Low German dātum , dāte , Middle Dutch, Dutch datum ,
Middle High German dātum (German Datum , in early modern German also
date ).







share|improve this answer

















  • 2




    Could datum at the start of a letter mean "dictated"? I ask because I've seen Da as a command from teacher to student to recite something, and I'm thinking that the Cicero class would typically dictate a letter to a slave/secretary rather than put pen to papyrus themselves.
    – Ben Kovitz
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    @BenKovitz I would much like to see that as a separate question. Too interesting to be buried in comments here, I think.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    53 mins ago



















1














There seems no reason to doubt that the English 'date' and similar words in other languages derive from the perfect participle of dare.



A very plausible origin is as a a relic of litterae datae which was used to indicate the date on which a letter was handed over to a courier. This is also shown in the singular form [epistola] data quoted in the extract from the OED provided by @fdb.






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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
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    active

    oldest

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    5














    For reference, this is what the OED has to say:




    Etymology: < Anglo-Norman dat, Anglo-Norman and Middle French date
    (Middle French datte ; French date ) regnal year (1230 or earlier),
    date (specified on a document) (1281 in Old French), date (more
    generally) (1314 or earlier) < post-classical Latin data (6th cent.;
    frequently from 11th cent. in British sources), use as noun (see note)
    of feminine singular of datus , past participle of dare to give (see
    datum n.). In classical Latin, the date of a letter was expressed by a
    phrase such as data xiiii K. Maias de Tarentino ‘(letter) sent from
    Tarentum on 18th April’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus 3. 6. 1), litteras
    datas a litoribus Britanniae proximis a. d. vi Kal. Octobr. ‘letter
    sent from the nearest shores of Britain on 26th September’ (Cicero
    Letters to Atticus 4. 18 . 5), litterarum datarum dies prid. Kal. Ian.
    ‘the day of a letter sent on 31st December’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus
    6. 1. 2). Hence data , the first word of the formula, came to be used as a term for the time and place stated therein. Compare Catalan data
    (14th cent.), Spanish †data (mid 13th cent.), Portuguese data (13th
    cent.), Italian data (a1556). Compare also (after similar dating
    formulae in post-classical Latin using the neuter singular datum (13th
    cent.)) Middle Low German dātum , dāte , Middle Dutch, Dutch datum ,
    Middle High German dātum (German Datum , in early modern German also
    date ).







    share|improve this answer

















    • 2




      Could datum at the start of a letter mean "dictated"? I ask because I've seen Da as a command from teacher to student to recite something, and I'm thinking that the Cicero class would typically dictate a letter to a slave/secretary rather than put pen to papyrus themselves.
      – Ben Kovitz
      1 hour ago






    • 1




      @BenKovitz I would much like to see that as a separate question. Too interesting to be buried in comments here, I think.
      – Joonas Ilmavirta
      53 mins ago
















    5














    For reference, this is what the OED has to say:




    Etymology: < Anglo-Norman dat, Anglo-Norman and Middle French date
    (Middle French datte ; French date ) regnal year (1230 or earlier),
    date (specified on a document) (1281 in Old French), date (more
    generally) (1314 or earlier) < post-classical Latin data (6th cent.;
    frequently from 11th cent. in British sources), use as noun (see note)
    of feminine singular of datus , past participle of dare to give (see
    datum n.). In classical Latin, the date of a letter was expressed by a
    phrase such as data xiiii K. Maias de Tarentino ‘(letter) sent from
    Tarentum on 18th April’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus 3. 6. 1), litteras
    datas a litoribus Britanniae proximis a. d. vi Kal. Octobr. ‘letter
    sent from the nearest shores of Britain on 26th September’ (Cicero
    Letters to Atticus 4. 18 . 5), litterarum datarum dies prid. Kal. Ian.
    ‘the day of a letter sent on 31st December’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus
    6. 1. 2). Hence data , the first word of the formula, came to be used as a term for the time and place stated therein. Compare Catalan data
    (14th cent.), Spanish †data (mid 13th cent.), Portuguese data (13th
    cent.), Italian data (a1556). Compare also (after similar dating
    formulae in post-classical Latin using the neuter singular datum (13th
    cent.)) Middle Low German dātum , dāte , Middle Dutch, Dutch datum ,
    Middle High German dātum (German Datum , in early modern German also
    date ).







    share|improve this answer

















    • 2




      Could datum at the start of a letter mean "dictated"? I ask because I've seen Da as a command from teacher to student to recite something, and I'm thinking that the Cicero class would typically dictate a letter to a slave/secretary rather than put pen to papyrus themselves.
      – Ben Kovitz
      1 hour ago






    • 1




      @BenKovitz I would much like to see that as a separate question. Too interesting to be buried in comments here, I think.
      – Joonas Ilmavirta
      53 mins ago














    5












    5








    5






    For reference, this is what the OED has to say:




    Etymology: < Anglo-Norman dat, Anglo-Norman and Middle French date
    (Middle French datte ; French date ) regnal year (1230 or earlier),
    date (specified on a document) (1281 in Old French), date (more
    generally) (1314 or earlier) < post-classical Latin data (6th cent.;
    frequently from 11th cent. in British sources), use as noun (see note)
    of feminine singular of datus , past participle of dare to give (see
    datum n.). In classical Latin, the date of a letter was expressed by a
    phrase such as data xiiii K. Maias de Tarentino ‘(letter) sent from
    Tarentum on 18th April’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus 3. 6. 1), litteras
    datas a litoribus Britanniae proximis a. d. vi Kal. Octobr. ‘letter
    sent from the nearest shores of Britain on 26th September’ (Cicero
    Letters to Atticus 4. 18 . 5), litterarum datarum dies prid. Kal. Ian.
    ‘the day of a letter sent on 31st December’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus
    6. 1. 2). Hence data , the first word of the formula, came to be used as a term for the time and place stated therein. Compare Catalan data
    (14th cent.), Spanish †data (mid 13th cent.), Portuguese data (13th
    cent.), Italian data (a1556). Compare also (after similar dating
    formulae in post-classical Latin using the neuter singular datum (13th
    cent.)) Middle Low German dātum , dāte , Middle Dutch, Dutch datum ,
    Middle High German dātum (German Datum , in early modern German also
    date ).







    share|improve this answer












    For reference, this is what the OED has to say:




    Etymology: < Anglo-Norman dat, Anglo-Norman and Middle French date
    (Middle French datte ; French date ) regnal year (1230 or earlier),
    date (specified on a document) (1281 in Old French), date (more
    generally) (1314 or earlier) < post-classical Latin data (6th cent.;
    frequently from 11th cent. in British sources), use as noun (see note)
    of feminine singular of datus , past participle of dare to give (see
    datum n.). In classical Latin, the date of a letter was expressed by a
    phrase such as data xiiii K. Maias de Tarentino ‘(letter) sent from
    Tarentum on 18th April’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus 3. 6. 1), litteras
    datas a litoribus Britanniae proximis a. d. vi Kal. Octobr. ‘letter
    sent from the nearest shores of Britain on 26th September’ (Cicero
    Letters to Atticus 4. 18 . 5), litterarum datarum dies prid. Kal. Ian.
    ‘the day of a letter sent on 31st December’ (Cicero Letters to Atticus
    6. 1. 2). Hence data , the first word of the formula, came to be used as a term for the time and place stated therein. Compare Catalan data
    (14th cent.), Spanish †data (mid 13th cent.), Portuguese data (13th
    cent.), Italian data (a1556). Compare also (after similar dating
    formulae in post-classical Latin using the neuter singular datum (13th
    cent.)) Middle Low German dātum , dāte , Middle Dutch, Dutch datum ,
    Middle High German dātum (German Datum , in early modern German also
    date ).








    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 4 hours ago









    fdb

    10.5k11127




    10.5k11127








    • 2




      Could datum at the start of a letter mean "dictated"? I ask because I've seen Da as a command from teacher to student to recite something, and I'm thinking that the Cicero class would typically dictate a letter to a slave/secretary rather than put pen to papyrus themselves.
      – Ben Kovitz
      1 hour ago






    • 1




      @BenKovitz I would much like to see that as a separate question. Too interesting to be buried in comments here, I think.
      – Joonas Ilmavirta
      53 mins ago














    • 2




      Could datum at the start of a letter mean "dictated"? I ask because I've seen Da as a command from teacher to student to recite something, and I'm thinking that the Cicero class would typically dictate a letter to a slave/secretary rather than put pen to papyrus themselves.
      – Ben Kovitz
      1 hour ago






    • 1




      @BenKovitz I would much like to see that as a separate question. Too interesting to be buried in comments here, I think.
      – Joonas Ilmavirta
      53 mins ago








    2




    2




    Could datum at the start of a letter mean "dictated"? I ask because I've seen Da as a command from teacher to student to recite something, and I'm thinking that the Cicero class would typically dictate a letter to a slave/secretary rather than put pen to papyrus themselves.
    – Ben Kovitz
    1 hour ago




    Could datum at the start of a letter mean "dictated"? I ask because I've seen Da as a command from teacher to student to recite something, and I'm thinking that the Cicero class would typically dictate a letter to a slave/secretary rather than put pen to papyrus themselves.
    – Ben Kovitz
    1 hour ago




    1




    1




    @BenKovitz I would much like to see that as a separate question. Too interesting to be buried in comments here, I think.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    53 mins ago




    @BenKovitz I would much like to see that as a separate question. Too interesting to be buried in comments here, I think.
    – Joonas Ilmavirta
    53 mins ago











    1














    There seems no reason to doubt that the English 'date' and similar words in other languages derive from the perfect participle of dare.



    A very plausible origin is as a a relic of litterae datae which was used to indicate the date on which a letter was handed over to a courier. This is also shown in the singular form [epistola] data quoted in the extract from the OED provided by @fdb.






    share|improve this answer


























      1














      There seems no reason to doubt that the English 'date' and similar words in other languages derive from the perfect participle of dare.



      A very plausible origin is as a a relic of litterae datae which was used to indicate the date on which a letter was handed over to a courier. This is also shown in the singular form [epistola] data quoted in the extract from the OED provided by @fdb.






      share|improve this answer
























        1












        1








        1






        There seems no reason to doubt that the English 'date' and similar words in other languages derive from the perfect participle of dare.



        A very plausible origin is as a a relic of litterae datae which was used to indicate the date on which a letter was handed over to a courier. This is also shown in the singular form [epistola] data quoted in the extract from the OED provided by @fdb.






        share|improve this answer












        There seems no reason to doubt that the English 'date' and similar words in other languages derive from the perfect participle of dare.



        A very plausible origin is as a a relic of litterae datae which was used to indicate the date on which a letter was handed over to a courier. This is also shown in the singular form [epistola] data quoted in the extract from the OED provided by @fdb.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 25 mins ago









        Tom Cotton

        13.8k11144




        13.8k11144






























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