Capitolium

English

Etymology

From Latin Capitōlium (“Capitoline Hill, its temples; similar citadels”), from the oblique stem of caput (“head”) + -ō (“forming nouns”) or -ōlus (“-ole: forming diminutives”) + -ium (“forming location names”).

Proper noun

Capitolium

1. (uncommon) Synonym of Capitoline Hill.

Noun

Capitolium (plural Capitolia)

1. (historical, uncommon) Synonym of capitol, similar citadels in ancient Italian and Roman towns.

Latin

The Capitoline Hill as seen from the south under Constantine the Great, Museum of Roman Civilization

The Capitoline Hill today, as seen from the west

Etymology

From the oblique stem of caput (“head”) + -ō (“forming nouns”) or -ōlus (“-ole: forming diminutives”) + -ium (“forming location names”). Compare capito and capitulum.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ka.piˈtoː.li.um/, [käpɪˈt̪oːlʲiʊ̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ka.piˈto.li.um/, [käpiˈt̪ɔːlium]

Proper noun

Capitōlium n sg (genitive Capitōliī or Capitōlī); second declension

1. The Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, particularly (historical) the Roman temples there in antiquity.

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter), singular only.

Case	Singular
Nominative	Capitōlium
Genitive	Capitōliī Capitōlī1
Dative	Capitōliō
Accusative	Capitōlium
Ablative	Capitōliō
Vocative	Capitōlium

¹Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

Synonyms

• Capitolinus, Mons Capitolinus, Clivus Capitolinus; Mons Saturnius, Mons Tarpeius (historical)

Derived terms

• Capitolinus
• Capitolium Vetus

 

Descendants

• Inherited forms:
  • Old French: capitoile, capitolie
    • → Middle English: Capitolie
      • English: Capitol, capitol
  • Italian: Campidoglio
  • Old Occitan: capdolh
    • Auvergnat: Chaptuèlh
      • → French: Chapteuil
  • Sicilian: Capitugghiu
• Borrowings:
  • → English: Capitolium (learned)
  • → Portuguese: Capitólio (learned)
  • → Sicilian: Capitùliu (learned)
  • → Spanish: Capitolio (learned)

Noun

Capitōlium n sg (genitive Capitōliī or Capitōlī); second declension

1. (figurative) Any eternal thing.
2. (figurative) Any similar citadel in other towns.
3. (Medieval Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin) Any pagan temple.

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Capitōlium	Capitōlia
Genitive	Capitōliī Capitōlī1	Capitōliōrum
Dative	Capitōliō	Capitōliīs
Accusative	Capitōlium	Capitōlia
Ablative	Capitōliō	Capitōliīs
Vocative	Capitōlium	Capitōlia

¹Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

References

• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “capitŏlium”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), volume 2: C Q K, page 265