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Glite Dictionary
Medieval Latin

Medieval Latin

1 9.9
A form of Latin used in Europe for writing, study and church work in the Middle Ages
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛdɪˈiːvəl ˈlætɪn/
translation icon : latín medieval
  • The study of Medieval Latin provides valuable insights into the culture and beliefs of medieval Europe.

Examples

  • Before turning to the Romance situation, I might note that according to the OED, Medieval Latin SYRINGA made its way into English by 1425, first in the form siryng, but later, after remodeling on the pattern of some of the oblique cases of Greek.

    Academic text (1993)

  • I just want to say that I spent so much time researching medieval Latin only to misspeak in game time and blow it all.

  • This requires a careful reading of medieval Latin texts in the light of earlier Byzantine texts of the fourth and fifth centuries and of important archaeological evidence: the skeletons of leper victims.

    Academic text (2006)

  • He then invoked Tromp's knowledge of Latin in favor of understanding "to subsist in" to mean "to remain in, to be perpetuated in." He wrote: "S. Tromp, as an excellent Latinist, knew well that in classical Latin and even more in medieval Latin, this was the real meaning of the word."

    Academic text (2008)

  • For example, in one figure of Andromeda (reproduced below) from a Medieval Latin manuscript, the nebula is even more conspicuous than in al-Sufi's original (at right), even though the Medieval authors may not have known what it meant, as the Arabic text was not available to them in Latin translation.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Many important works of literature were composed in Medieval Latin, influencing the development of modern European languages.

  • Medieval Latin was widely used by scholars during the Middle Ages for writing religious texts.

Synonyms

Low Latin
vsMedieval Latin
  • Specialized
9.9

Forms of Latin used after the ancient period, especially in the Middle Ages

is the specific medieval form used mainly for writing and scholarship

Surface Forms

Medieval Latin singular
Medieval Latins plural

Morphology

medieval + Latin

The phrase 'Medieval Latin' is directly compositional: 'medieval' specifies the historical period and 'Latin' names the language, so the meaning ‘the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages’ follows immediately from the constituents. This adjective+noun pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will reliably infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The name Medieval Latin comes from the words Medieval, meaning the 'Middle Ages', and Latin, the language. Imagine monks in quiet rooms copying books and adding local words for new things used in church and learning. So, Medieval Latin means the special form of Latin used across Europe in the 'Middle Ages'.