An Attempt To Date
the Slavs
G.D.O'Bradovich III
July 29, 2015
Courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary: What did the English know about the Slavs and when did they know it? Citations after the year 1801 are omitted.
Forms:
α. ME Sclaue, ME, 18 Sclave.
β. 17–18 Slave. γ. 18 Slav.
Etymology:
In early use < medieval Latin Sclavus (recorded from c800), corresponding to late Greek Σκλάβος (c580): compare older German Sklave , Sclav(e , Schlav(e , Middle High German Schlaff . The later forms in Sl- correspond to modern German and French Slave , medieval Latin Slavus (951), and are closer to the Old Slavonic and Russian forms: see Slovene n. and adj.
A. n. 1. A person belonging by race to a large group of peoples inhabiting eastern Europe and comprising the Russians, Bulgarians, Serbo-Croats, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, etc.
α.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 417
Cirillus, apostel of þe Sclaves.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 249
He chastede þe Saxons and þe Sclaves.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum viii.xxii. (Tollem. MS.)
Þe contre and londe of sclaues.
β.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 544
The national appellation of the Slaves has been degraded by chance or malice from the signification of glory to that of servitude.
1. A Slavonian.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 257,
The Sclauon dooth playnly vnderstande the Moscouite.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 276v,
Vnder the dominion of the Slauons and vsyng the same tonge.
1606 G. W. tr. Epit. Liues Emperors in tr. Justinus Hist. sig. Ii vj,
He ouer~came the Hungars, and Subiected the Sclauons.
2. The Slavonic language. rare—1.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 128
The Slavon is their vulgar tongue.
B. adj. Slavonic. Also Comb.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 289,
The Slauon tounge (whiche at this daye is sumwhat corruptly cauled Sclauon).
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 344/1
In oure Slauon language, it hath bene vsed of old.
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare in Wks. III. 266
[The Bible] in the Sclavon tongue.
A. n. 1. The language of the Slavs; Slavic; Slavonic.
α.
1577 J. Dee Gen. Mem. Arte Nauig. 62
Far-Forreyn-Languages: As..the Sclauonian, or Moschouite, the Arabik Vulgar, the Turkish [etc.].
1657 P. Heylyn Way & Manner Reformation ii. 72
The like done by Methodus, the Apostle General of the Sclaves, translating it into the Sclavonian for the use of those Nations.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 16 Mar. (1965) I. 390
In Pera they speak Turkish, Greek, Hebrew,..Russian, Sclavonian, [etc.].
2. A person of Slavonic origin; a Slav.
α.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 181
One Dando a Sclauonian, who liued 500 yeres.
1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck
De Sclavoenen, the Sclavonians.
1756 A. Maclaine tr. J. L. von Mosheim Eccl. Hist. xii. i. i. §5
The Sclavonians, a rough and barbarous people.
β.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 58
Among which the principall in Europe, are the Slauonians themselues.
1782 Encycl. Brit. IX. 6896/2
The Slavi, or Slavonians, corruptly called the Sclavonians.
B. adj. 1. Of or relating to the Slavs; Slavonic; Slavic.
α.
1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 40
Alan is thought by Iulius Scaliger..to signifie an hownd in the Sclavonian tongue.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 75
The Hermonduri and Sorabi of the Sclavonian Nation.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 4
The Highdutch, the Sclavonian, and Curland Language.
1724 D. Waterland Crit. Hist. Athanasian Creed vi. 94
Cyrill and Methodius, who are said to have invented the Sclavonian letters, and to have translated the Scriptures into the Sclavonian tongue.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 550
The Hungarian language stands alone..among the Sclavonian dialects.
β.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 59
Of the Turks dominion onely Epirus..speake vulgarly the Slauoniantongue.
1613 M. Ridley Short Treat. Magneticall Bodies 66
To have three teeth, like a Slavonian T.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 543
The original stock of the Sclavonian, or more properly Slavonian, race.
A. adj. Of, belonging or pertaining to, the Slavs or their language; Slavic; Slavonian.
α.
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 159
The slavonic tongue hath abolished her [sc. the Greek tongue] in Epire and Macedon.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Sclavonic,
A Greek, Latin and Sclavonic Dictionary.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 564
The Sclavonic city of Julin.
β.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 59
Yet is not the Slauonique tongue..the vulgar language of the Turkish Empire.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. lxxiii. 91
Terms, which..seemed rather to be Slavonick words.
B. n. The language of the Slavs.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 265
In..the Church are Confession-seates for all Languages as Hebrew, Gr:..Welch, Sclavonic, Dutch &c.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Sclavonic,
Each..have their particular Dialect; only the Sclavonic is the common Mother of their several Languages.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1772 I. 358 [Paraphrasing Johnson:]
He [sc. Johnson] observed, that the Bohemian language was true Sclavonick.
Slavonian.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccliiij v,
Two Frenche, fyue Spanishe, and one Slauonishe.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 58
Many are the nations that haue for their vulgar language theSlauonish tongue.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 267
An Altar of the Madona..and divers Sclavonish Saints.
The citations in chronological order.
1387▸a (1872 Cirillus, apostel of þe Sclaves.
1387▸a (1876) ...þe Saxons and þe Sclaves.
1398 Þe contre and londe of sclaues.
1555 The Sclauon dooth ... the Moscouite.
1555 Vnder the dominion of the Slauons ...
1555 The Slauon tounge ... cauled Sclauon).
1560 Two Frenche, fyue Spanishe, and one Slauonishe.
1563 In oure Slauon language, it hath bene vsed of old.
1565 [The Bible] in the Sclavon tongue.
1577 Far-Forreyn-Languages: As..the Sclauonian, or Moschouite, ...
1601 One Dando a Sclauonian, who liued 500 yeres.
1605 Alan is thought by Iulius Scaliger.. in the Sclavonian tongue.
1606 ... the Hungars, and Subiected the Sclauons.
1613 To have three teeth, like a Slavonian T.
1613a (1614) ... Europe, are the Slauonians themselues.
1613a (1614) Of the Turks dominion ...the Slauonian tongue.
1617 The Hermonduri and Sorabi of the Sclavonian Nation.
1635 (1636) The Slavon is their vulgar tongue.
1647 The slavonic tongue hath abolished her [sc. the Greek tongue] ...
1648 Woorden-boeck De Sclavoenen, the Sclavonians.
1656 (1674) Terms...to be Slavonick words.
1657 ...of the Sclaves, translating it into the Sclavonian for ...
1660c (1955) In..the Church ..., Sclavonic, Dutch &c.
1660c (1955) An Altar of the Madona..and divers Sclavonish Saints.
1662 The Highdutch, the Sclavonian, and ...
1718 (1965 ... Greek, Hebrew,..Russian, Sclavonian, [etc.].
1724 ...Sclavonian letters,...the Sclavonian tongue.
1728 A Greek, Latin and Sclavonic Dictionary.
1728 , ... only the Sclavonic is the common Mother of ...
1756 The Sclavonians, ...
1782 The Slavi, or Slavonians, corruptly called the Sclavonians.
1788 ... of the Sclavonian, or more properly Slavonian, race.
1788 The national appellation of the Slaves has been degraded...
1788 ..among the Sclavonian dialects.
1788 The Sclavonic city of Julin.
1791 ... language was true Sclavonick.
Forms:
α. ME Sclaue, ME, 18 Sclave.
β. 17–18 Slave. γ. 18 Slav.
Etymology:
In early use < medieval Latin Sclavus (recorded from c800), corresponding to late Greek Σκλάβος (c580): compare older German Sklave , Sclav(e , Schlav(e , Middle High German Schlaff . The later forms in Sl- correspond to modern German and French Slave , medieval Latin Slavus (951), and are closer to the Old Slavonic and Russian forms: see Slovene n. and adj.
A. n. 1. A person belonging by race to a large group of peoples inhabiting eastern Europe and comprising the Russians, Bulgarians, Serbo-Croats, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, etc.
α.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 417
Cirillus, apostel of þe Sclaves.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 249
He chastede þe Saxons and þe Sclaves.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum viii.xxii. (Tollem. MS.)
Þe contre and londe of sclaues.
β.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 544
The national appellation of the Slaves has been degraded by chance or malice from the signification of glory to that of servitude.
1. A Slavonian.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 257,
The Sclauon dooth playnly vnderstande the Moscouite.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 276v,
Vnder the dominion of the Slauons and vsyng the same tonge.
1606 G. W. tr. Epit. Liues Emperors in tr. Justinus Hist. sig. Ii vj,
He ouer~came the Hungars, and Subiected the Sclauons.
2. The Slavonic language. rare—1.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 128
The Slavon is their vulgar tongue.
B. adj. Slavonic. Also Comb.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 289,
The Slauon tounge (whiche at this daye is sumwhat corruptly cauled Sclauon).
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 344/1
In oure Slauon language, it hath bene vsed of old.
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare in Wks. III. 266
[The Bible] in the Sclavon tongue.
A. n. 1. The language of the Slavs; Slavic; Slavonic.
α.
1577 J. Dee Gen. Mem. Arte Nauig. 62
Far-Forreyn-Languages: As..the Sclauonian, or Moschouite, the Arabik Vulgar, the Turkish [etc.].
1657 P. Heylyn Way & Manner Reformation ii. 72
The like done by Methodus, the Apostle General of the Sclaves, translating it into the Sclavonian for the use of those Nations.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 16 Mar. (1965) I. 390
In Pera they speak Turkish, Greek, Hebrew,..Russian, Sclavonian, [etc.].
2. A person of Slavonic origin; a Slav.
α.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 181
One Dando a Sclauonian, who liued 500 yeres.
1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck
De Sclavoenen, the Sclavonians.
1756 A. Maclaine tr. J. L. von Mosheim Eccl. Hist. xii. i. i. §5
The Sclavonians, a rough and barbarous people.
β.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 58
Among which the principall in Europe, are the Slauonians themselues.
1782 Encycl. Brit. IX. 6896/2
The Slavi, or Slavonians, corruptly called the Sclavonians.
B. adj. 1. Of or relating to the Slavs; Slavonic; Slavic.
α.
1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 40
Alan is thought by Iulius Scaliger..to signifie an hownd in the Sclavonian tongue.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 75
The Hermonduri and Sorabi of the Sclavonian Nation.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 4
The Highdutch, the Sclavonian, and Curland Language.
1724 D. Waterland Crit. Hist. Athanasian Creed vi. 94
Cyrill and Methodius, who are said to have invented the Sclavonian letters, and to have translated the Scriptures into the Sclavonian tongue.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 550
The Hungarian language stands alone..among the Sclavonian dialects.
β.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 59
Of the Turks dominion onely Epirus..speake vulgarly the Slauoniantongue.
1613 M. Ridley Short Treat. Magneticall Bodies 66
To have three teeth, like a Slavonian T.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 543
The original stock of the Sclavonian, or more properly Slavonian, race.
A. adj. Of, belonging or pertaining to, the Slavs or their language; Slavic; Slavonian.
α.
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 159
The slavonic tongue hath abolished her [sc. the Greek tongue] in Epire and Macedon.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Sclavonic,
A Greek, Latin and Sclavonic Dictionary.
1788 Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lv. 564
The Sclavonic city of Julin.
β.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 59
Yet is not the Slauonique tongue..the vulgar language of the Turkish Empire.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. lxxiii. 91
Terms, which..seemed rather to be Slavonick words.
B. n. The language of the Slavs.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 265
In..the Church are Confession-seates for all Languages as Hebrew, Gr:..Welch, Sclavonic, Dutch &c.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Sclavonic,
Each..have their particular Dialect; only the Sclavonic is the common Mother of their several Languages.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1772 I. 358 [Paraphrasing Johnson:]
He [sc. Johnson] observed, that the Bohemian language was true Sclavonick.
Slavonian.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccliiij v,
Two Frenche, fyue Spanishe, and one Slauonishe.
a1613 E. Brerewood Enq. Langs. & Relig. (1614) viii. 58
Many are the nations that haue for their vulgar language theSlauonish tongue.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 267
An Altar of the Madona..and divers Sclavonish Saints.
The citations in chronological order.
1387▸a (1872 Cirillus, apostel of þe Sclaves.
1387▸a (1876) ...þe Saxons and þe Sclaves.
1398 Þe contre and londe of sclaues.
1555 The Sclauon dooth ... the Moscouite.
1555 Vnder the dominion of the Slauons ...
1555 The Slauon tounge ... cauled Sclauon).
1560 Two Frenche, fyue Spanishe, and one Slauonishe.
1563 In oure Slauon language, it hath bene vsed of old.
1565 [The Bible] in the Sclavon tongue.
1577 Far-Forreyn-Languages: As..the Sclauonian, or Moschouite, ...
1601 One Dando a Sclauonian, who liued 500 yeres.
1605 Alan is thought by Iulius Scaliger.. in the Sclavonian tongue.
1606 ... the Hungars, and Subiected the Sclauons.
1613 To have three teeth, like a Slavonian T.
1613a (1614) ... Europe, are the Slauonians themselues.
1613a (1614) Of the Turks dominion ...the Slauonian tongue.
1617 The Hermonduri and Sorabi of the Sclavonian Nation.
1635 (1636) The Slavon is their vulgar tongue.
1647 The slavonic tongue hath abolished her [sc. the Greek tongue] ...
1648 Woorden-boeck De Sclavoenen, the Sclavonians.
1656 (1674) Terms...to be Slavonick words.
1657 ...of the Sclaves, translating it into the Sclavonian for ...
1660c (1955) In..the Church ..., Sclavonic, Dutch &c.
1660c (1955) An Altar of the Madona..and divers Sclavonish Saints.
1662 The Highdutch, the Sclavonian, and ...
1718 (1965 ... Greek, Hebrew,..Russian, Sclavonian, [etc.].
1724 ...Sclavonian letters,...the Sclavonian tongue.
1728 A Greek, Latin and Sclavonic Dictionary.
1728 , ... only the Sclavonic is the common Mother of ...
1756 The Sclavonians, ...
1782 The Slavi, or Slavonians, corruptly called the Sclavonians.
1788 ... of the Sclavonian, or more properly Slavonian, race.
1788 The national appellation of the Slaves has been degraded...
1788 ..among the Sclavonian dialects.
1788 The Sclavonic city of Julin.
1791 ... language was true Sclavonick.