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[10arg] That aeditumus is a Latin word.Aeditimus 1 is a Latin word and an old one at that, formed in the same way as finitimus and legilimus. In place of it many to-day say aedituus by a new and false usage, as if it were derived from guarding the temples. 2 This ought to be enough to say as a warning 3 . . . because of certain rude and persistent disputants, who are not to be restrained except by the citation of authorities. Marcus Varro, in the second book of his Latin Language addressed to Marcellus, thinks 4 that we ought to use aedituus rather than aedituus, because the latter is made up by a late invention, while the former is pure and of ancient origin. Laevius too, [p. 393] in the Protesilaodamia I think, used claustritumum 5 of one who had charge of the fastenings of a door, evidently using the same formation by which he saw that aeditumus, or “one who guards the temples,” is made. In the most reliable copies of Marcus Tullius' Fourth Oration against Verres I find it written: 6 “The custodians (aeditumi) and guards quickly perceive it,” but in the ordinary copies aeditui is read. There is an Atellan farce of Pomponius' entitled Aeditumus. In it is this line: 7
As soon as I attend you and keep your temple-door (aeditumor).Titus Lucretius too in his poem 8 speaks of aedituentes, instead of aeditui. 9
