tablinum

English

Etymology

From Latin tablīnum.

Noun

tablinum (plural tablina)

1. (historical) An anteroom in a house of ancient Rome, opening out of the atrium opposite the main entry and often containing the family statues and archives.
   • 1715, “Section II, Of Private Buildings”, in The history of many memorable things lost, which were in use among the ancients and an account of many excellent things found, now in use among the moderns ... written originally in Latin ... and now done into English ... with several additions (etc.)‎^[1], volume 1, London: John Nicholson, translation of original by Guido Pancirollus, page 72:

     (b) There was also a Pluteus (which we call Tablinum) a Place or Study, where the Pictures of their Ancestors, and their glorious Atchievements, were drawn or pourtray'd: On the other Side was the Kitchin, from whence they came into a Porch built about the Hall, or Cavedium, which, because `twas four-square, it was therefore surrounded with four Porticos, which may properly be called Walks or Piazzas.

   • 2010, Kate Quinn, chapter 17, in Mistress of Rome, London: Headline Review, →ISBN, page 244:

     To my surprise I was shown not into the bedchamber but into the tablinum, where my imperial lover was half hidden by a mountain of paperwork.

Further reading

• tablinum on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Latin

Alternative forms

• tabulīnum

Etymology

From tabula (“writing tablet, records office”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /taˈbliː.num/, [t̪äˈblʲiːnʊ̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /taˈbli.num/, [t̪äˈbliːnum]

Noun

tablīnum n (genitive tablīnī); second declension

1. study, archives (room in a Roman villa)
2. balcony, terrace
3. picture gallery

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

	singular	plural
nominative	tablīnum	tablīna
genitive	tablīnī	tablīnōrum
dative	tablīnō	tablīnīs
accusative	tablīnum	tablīna
ablative	tablīnō	tablīnīs
vocative	tablīnum	tablīna

Related terms

• tabula
• tabulāmentum
• tabulārium

References

• “tablinum”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• tablinum in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• “tablinum”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “tablinum”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin