You are here:

Ancient Languages/Latin translation

Expert: Maria - 2/22/2011

Question

Hi,
I am transcribing genealogy records and found what I assume are Latin words that I can't find any reference to. The word is "Tinct" Or "Tincta" and "circuforanei"
Examples: "Maria filia Steph:Sumers Tincta."
"Clement fili Robti Dixon Circuforanei de parvis
Minoritis (vulgo little Minoritis) de London, baptizat"

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Terry

Answer
Hello,

In this parish Register of Shipbourne village in Kent, UK, the late Latin word "Tinct" or "Tincta" means “baptized”.

For example, in “Maria filia Steph. Sumers Tincta" -meaning “Mary, daughter of Stephen Summers, baptized” - the word “tincta” is the nominative feminine (agreed with “Maria”) of the past participle “tinctus” (nominative masculine) that derives from the verb “tingo” which in late Latin means “I baptize”, while in classical Latin means “I wet, moisten, bathe” ( with or in any liquid).

As you can see, in this register we find sometimes the past participle “tinct”/”tincta” and sometimes the past participle “baptizat” which is the abbreviated form of “baptizatus”(=”baptized” in the masculine) or “baptizata”(=”baptized” in the feminine).

With regard to "Clement fili Robti Dixon Circũforanei de parvis Minoritis (vulgo little Minoritis) de London, baptizat” -meaning “Clement, son of Robert Dixon, itinerant, belonging to the little Minorits of London, baptizated”-, the Latin term “Circũforanei” or “Circūforanei” is the genitive case (agreed with the genitive 'Roberti Dixon' ) of the adjective “circumforaneus” (nominative) meaning “itinerant/ that travels to market/ of/connected with business of/around the forum or market-place “, since this Robert Dixon was an itinerant.

Note that the “m” or the “u” with a macron, i.e. the horizontal mark ( ¯ ), or the tilde symbol (~) placed over the letter, stand for ‘mm ‘ or ‘um’, as the macron or the tilde indicate that a “m” has dropped.

Hope this can be helpful to you.
Best regards,
Maria

Questioner's Rating

Rating(1-10)	Knowledgeability = 10	Clarity of Response = 10	Politeness = 10
Comment	Maria's response was quick and very helpfull. I've been stuck on this problem for some time. Thanks Maria.