freemasons

Latin translation: sodalicii

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:freemasons
Latin translation:sodalicii
Entered by: Joseph Brazauskas

10:49 Mar 3, 2004
English to Latin translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - History / politics
English term or phrase: freemasons
freemasonary and its development in popular culture
george lee
sodalicii
Explanation:
Whereas 'freemasonry' itself is probably best rendered by 'sodalitas'.

At Rome, a 'sodalicius' (orig. an adj. meaning 'relating to companionship or fellowship', was a member of a society, often secret and not always legal (depending on the attitude of the government at the time), in which workers of the Roman lower classes--in some this included even slaves--banded together for worship of some specific deity or deities, and mutual financial and other assistance, especially for common meals and to ensure that all members enjoyed a decent burial.

The society's purposes, however, were not primarily political, although this was always a fear of the ruling authority under both the Repbulic and the Empire, and laws were accordingly passed to control these societies (notably the 'lex Licinia', passed sometime in the 2nd half of the 2nd cent. BCE). It was primarily a social and religious institution.

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Note added at 2004-03-03 23:44:46 (GMT)
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A neut. sing. substantive form \'sodalicium\' occurs in Cicero; the collective plur. \'sodalicii\' is more common under the Empire.
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Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 03:04
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Summary of answers provided
4 +2sodalicii
Joseph Brazauskas


  

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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
sodalicii


Explanation:
Whereas 'freemasonry' itself is probably best rendered by 'sodalitas'.

At Rome, a 'sodalicius' (orig. an adj. meaning 'relating to companionship or fellowship', was a member of a society, often secret and not always legal (depending on the attitude of the government at the time), in which workers of the Roman lower classes--in some this included even slaves--banded together for worship of some specific deity or deities, and mutual financial and other assistance, especially for common meals and to ensure that all members enjoyed a decent burial.

The society's purposes, however, were not primarily political, although this was always a fear of the ruling authority under both the Repbulic and the Empire, and laws were accordingly passed to control these societies (notably the 'lex Licinia', passed sometime in the 2nd half of the 2nd cent. BCE). It was primarily a social and religious institution.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-03-03 23:44:46 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A neut. sing. substantive form \'sodalicium\' occurs in Cicero; the collective plur. \'sodalicii\' is more common under the Empire.

Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 03:04
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
11 hrs
  -> Thanks.

agree  verbis
2 days 56 mins
  -> Thanks.
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