cera

cera¹ look, expression

Pronunciation

• /ˈt͡ʃe.ra/^[1]

Forms

cera f (plural cere)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the face and its look is borrowed from Old French chiere (“face”) (about 1100), modern French chère.^[2][3][4] The French word comes from Vulgar Latin *cara (“face”), probably from Ancient Greek κάρα (kára, “head; in poetry also face”), whose own origin is uncertain.^[2][5][3] DEI and the GDLI date a Late Latin cara to the 6th century, but the LEI finds no sure Latin record.^[6][7][5]

The same word is Old Occitan cara, Catalan cara, Spanish cara and Portuguese cara.^[5][3] The LEI notes that its spread fits neither a direct loan from Greek (the view of Diez, Meyer-Lübke and Wartburg) nor a pre-Roman origin (Corominas).^[5] Native forms are rare in Italy, such as Ligurian caa in Genoa and Sicilian cara; the Italian word came with the culture of chivalry from Old French, and northern Italian passed it on to Romansh tscheira and Friulian ciere.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in Giacomo da Lentini, in the first half of the 13th century, with the sense “face”: la cera ho bene bagnata, my face is often wet with tears.^[8][2][7]

Semantic evolution

In Old Italian cera was the face itself and also the look and expression that showed a person's feelings; it could stand for a whole person or for someone's presence.^[8] The old form ciera lasted until the 20th century.^[5][7]

The GDLI notes that the word lost the sense “face” by the 17th century and kept only the look of the face, above all as a sign of health, and some set phrases.^[7] Far buona cera “to welcome warmly” is recorded in Florence in the late 13th century;^[5][9][10] far buona cera or gran cera “to eat well” follows French faire bonne chère.^[5][9][10]

Timeline

• 1230–1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses cera for the face.^[8][2]
• Late 13th century – Far buona cara “to welcome kindly” is recorded in Florence.^[5]
• 17th century – The sense “face” falls out of use.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The look of someone's face as a sign of health, complexion: avere una brutta cera.^[4][11][12]
2. The expression of the face as a sign of mood or character: una cera fosca.^[4][10]
3. Far buona or cattiva cera (a qualcuno), to give someone a warm or a cold welcome.^[13][10][12]
4. (archaic) The face itself.^[10][8]
5. (archaic) Far buona cera, to eat well.^[10][12]

cera² wax

Pronunciation

• /ˈt͡ʃe.ra/^[1]

Forms

cera f (plural cere)^[1]

Etymology

The word for wax is inherited from Latin cēra (“wax”).^[2][3][4][1] It is found in every Romance language: Romanian ceară, Dalmatian kaira, Friulian cere, French cire, Occitan cera, Catalan cera, Spanish cera, Portuguese cera and Sardinian chera.^[14][3][15] The DÉRom reconstructs Proto-Romance */ˈker-a/ with the senses wax, candle, earwax and the matter on the eyelids.^[16]

The Latin word is close to Ancient Greek κηρός (kērós, “wax”) (Doric κᾱρός (kārós)), and perhaps to Lithuanian korỹs (“honeycomb”).^[17][3][1] De Vaan thinks it probably a loan from an unknown language, or directly from Greek;^[17][6][3] DEI calls it a Mediterranean relic, while Nocentini sees the Baltic match as a sign of Indo-European origin.^[17][6][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLIO's first record is in the Libro of Uguccione da Lodi, a Cremonese text of the early 13th century, with the sense “beeswax”.^[8] DELI's first dates are the form ciera in a letter of Andrea de' Tolomei of 1262 and cera in Guido delle Colonne, before 1290.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Old Italian cera also meant things made of wax, mostly candles, and a cosmetic.^[8] Dante uses it for matter that takes the imprint of the heavens, the mondana cera.^[8][4] The plural for the wax tablets of the ancients is a learned use of the 14th century.^[6]

Derivatives followed: cero “large candle” (1233), cerotto “plaster” (14th century), ceralacca “sealing wax” (1666–67, Magalotti), cerino “wax match” (1741) and cerone “greasepaint” (1925).^[2] Cera di Spagna was another name for sealing wax from the 18th century.^[6] Modern usage added floor and furniture polish and the many natural and synthetic waxes of chemistry.^[4][11]

Timeline

• Early 13th century – Uguccione da Lodi uses cera for wax.^[8]
• 1233 – Cero is recorded.^[2]
• 1262 – The form ciera appears in a letter of Andrea de' Tolomei.^[2]
• Before 1290 – Guido delle Colonne uses cera.^[2]
• 1666–1667 – Magalotti uses ceralacca.^[2]
• 1741 – Cerino “wax match” is recorded.^[2]
• 1925 – Cerone appears in the Zingarelli dictionary.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. Beeswax, the soft yellowish substance bees make their combs of, used for candles and cosmetics: una statuina di cera.^[4][11][18]
2. (chemistry) Any wax, natural or synthetic, made of esters of fatty acids and alcohols.^[4][11][19]
3. Floor or furniture polish: dare la cera.^[4][19]
4. A wax figure or cast: museo delle cere.^[4][19]
5. A candle or torch; candles taken together.^[4][11][19]
6. (historical) A wax tablet for writing on.^[4][11]
7. (art) Fusione a cera persa, lost-wax casting.^[11][19][18]

Word family

• cero
• cerino
• ceralacca
• cerotto
• cerone
• cerume
• ceretta
• cereria
• ceraiolo
• cereo
• ceroso
• cerare
• cerato
• incerare