A note on the etymology of Latin "Caesar"

2025
journal article
article
dc.abstract.enThis article examines the etymology of the Latin cognomen "Caesar", famously associated with Gaius Julius Caesar and later adopted as a title by Roman emperors. It reviews ancient folk etymologies - linking the cognomen "Caesar" to cutting ("caedere"), hair ("caesaries"), or eye color ("caesius") - and contrasts them with modern linguistic perspectives, which emphasize the name’s uncertain but likely Italic origin. Additionally, it is pointed out that the term "caesaries" ‘hair’ might be the derivative of the original noun and its chain of derivation is reviewed. Though its precise origin remains unclear, the name "Caesar" underwent a significant semantic evolution, ultimately becoming a dynastic title and giving rise to imperial terms such as German "Kaiser" and Russian "Tsar".
dc.affiliationWydział Filologiczny : Instytut Filologii Klasycznej
dc.contributor.authorPiwowarczyk, Dariusz - 143431
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-14T20:47:48Z
dc.date.available2025-11-14T20:47:48Z
dc.date.createdat2025-11-12T20:53:01Zen
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.openaccess0
dc.description.accesstimew momencie opublikowania
dc.description.physical161-166
dc.description.versionostateczna wersja wydawcy
dc.description.volume28
dc.identifier.doi10.12797/CC.28.2025.28.07
dc.identifier.eissn2391-6753
dc.identifier.issn1505-8913
dc.identifier.projectDRC AI
dc.identifier.urihttps://ruj.uj.edu.pl/handle/item/565321
dc.languageeng
dc.language.containereng
dc.rightsUdzielam licencji. Uznanie autorstwa - Użycie niekomercyjne - Bez utworów zależnych 4.0 Międzynarodowa
dc.rights.licenceCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode.pl
dc.share.typeotwarte czasopismo
dc.subject.enLatin etymology
dc.subject.enLatin language
dc.subject.enhistorical lexicology
dc.subtypeArticle
dc.titleA note on the etymology of Latin "Caesar"
dc.title.journalClassica Cracoviensia
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublicationen
dc.abstract.en
This article examines the etymology of the Latin cognomen "Caesar", famously associated with Gaius Julius Caesar and later adopted as a title by Roman emperors. It reviews ancient folk etymologies - linking the cognomen "Caesar" to cutting ("caedere"), hair ("caesaries"), or eye color ("caesius") - and contrasts them with modern linguistic perspectives, which emphasize the name’s uncertain but likely Italic origin. Additionally, it is pointed out that the term "caesaries" ‘hair’ might be the derivative of the original noun and its chain of derivation is reviewed. Though its precise origin remains unclear, the name "Caesar" underwent a significant semantic evolution, ultimately becoming a dynastic title and giving rise to imperial terms such as German "Kaiser" and Russian "Tsar".
dc.affiliation
Wydział Filologiczny : Instytut Filologii Klasycznej
dc.contributor.author
Piwowarczyk, Dariusz - 143431
dc.date.accessioned
2025-11-14T20:47:48Z
dc.date.available
2025-11-14T20:47:48Z
dc.date.createdaten
2025-11-12T20:53:01Z
dc.date.issued
2025
dc.date.openaccess
0
dc.description.accesstime
w momencie opublikowania
dc.description.physical
161-166
dc.description.version
ostateczna wersja wydawcy
dc.description.volume
28
dc.identifier.doi
10.12797/CC.28.2025.28.07
dc.identifier.eissn
2391-6753
dc.identifier.issn
1505-8913
dc.identifier.project
DRC AI
dc.identifier.uri
https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/handle/item/565321
dc.language
eng
dc.language.container
eng
dc.rights
Udzielam licencji. Uznanie autorstwa - Użycie niekomercyjne - Bez utworów zależnych 4.0 Międzynarodowa
dc.rights.licence
CC-BY-NC-ND
dc.rights.uri
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode.pl
dc.share.type
otwarte czasopismo
dc.subject.en
Latin etymology
dc.subject.en
Latin language
dc.subject.en
historical lexicology
dc.subtype
Article
dc.title
A note on the etymology of Latin "Caesar"
dc.title.journal
Classica Cracoviensia
dc.type
JournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeen
Publication
Affiliations

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