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municipal

Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:20 am
by William Hupy
I like how the origin of this word had a sense of public duty. The way I understand it, "munus" meant a service performed for the community and the second element "capere" was to assume or take. The latter appears in capable.

Re: municipal

Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 8:16 pm
by Slava
Well, here's my take on this one:
  • "Munus" wasn't necessarily for the community, it could also be by the community.

    The "cip" is the root of "capere," but not necessarily bearing the same meaning.

    A source of capable is "capax," (able to hold much), which we can see in capacity, what something is able to hold.

    A Roman municipum was a city whose citizens had the privileges of Roman citizens but was governed by its own laws.
Putting these together, I come up with the idea that a municipality is a town large enough to make its own local laws.

Much like US cities. Subject to federal and state laws, but also allowed to make their own in addition.

Information gleaned from http://www.etymonline.com.