Vulgate

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈvʌlɡeɪt/

Definitions

  1. The ordinary form of a language as spoken or written by common people | a text or version that is widely known and accepted as standard
  2. the common or colloquial form of a language used by ordinary speakers | a widely accepted standard version of a text or work
  3. a popular and vernacular variety of speech or writing used by the general populace | an established and conventional edition of a literary work

Etymology: The term emerged in the late Middle Ages to refer specifically to a Latin translation of the Bible that became widely accepted and used by the Catholic Church. This influential version was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in the late 4th century and completed by St. Jerome, who translated the scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin. His translation aimed to standardize the many varying Latin biblical texts circulating at the time, creating a more uniform and accessible text for clergy and laypeople alike. Derived from the Latin word "vulgatus," meaning "common" or "popular," the noun reflects the idea of something made accessible to the general populace rather than confined to a scholarly or elite audience. This Latin adjective itself comes from "vulgus," which means "the common people." Thus, the term originally conveyed the sense of a text that was widely circulated and accepted among the common faithful, contrasting with rarer or more specialized versions of the scriptures. Over time, the word broadened its reference beyond that specific Bible translation to describe any text or version that is considered standard or commonly accepted within a particular community or context. While its roots are firmly ecclesiastical, the concept it embodies—the idea of a "common" or "popular" edition—has been applied more generally in historical and literary discussions. The pronunciation, with the hard "g" sound as in "gate," preserves the Latin origin, distinguishing it from similar-looking English words. Its usage in English dates back to the 14th or 15th century, coinciding with the period when the Vulgate Bible itself became the authoritative scriptural source for Western Christianity.

Synonyms: common version, standard version