soma

soma¹ load of a pack animal

Etymology tree of soma¹

inherited borrowed derived

Ancient Greek σάττω (sáttō)

Ancient Greek σάγμα (ságma)

Latin sagma

Italian soma

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɔ.ma/^[1]

Forms

soma f (plural some)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the load is inherited from Late Latin sauma (“packsaddle”), a variant of Latin sagma, which is from Ancient Greek σάγμα (ságma, “packsaddle”).^[2][3][4][1] DELI and Zingarelli give the Latin form as Vulgar Latin *sāuma.^[3][5] The Greek noun is derived from σάττω (sáttō, “to load, pack”).^[2][1]

The same word is French somme and Occitan saume “packsaddle”, while Catalan salma and Spanish salma mean a ton.^[2][6] Italian also has the doublet salma “corpse”, from the form with ⟨-gm-⟩.^[1][2][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest dated use is for a unit of measure, in Matasala's records of 1233–1243.^[3] The load of a pack animal follows in Bono Giamboni, before 1292, who says of camels that they kneel to be loaded e con la soma si levano senza alcuno aiuto (“and rise with the load without any help”).^[3][8] Nocentini dates the word to 1269.^[2]

Semantic evolution

As a measure the soma was the load of one animal, for grain, wine or oil, with values that varied from region to region until the metric system replaced it;^[4][9][5] DEI records it in old Florentine texts as a measure for wine.^[4][9][5]

The figurative senses are literary.^[4][10] Dante's Statius says he fell on the way con la seconda soma, the unfinished Achilleid;^[11][3][4] Petrarch uses the word for political oppression (before 1374) and for the body as the burden of the soul: volando al ciel colla terrena soma (“flying to heaven with the earthly load”).^[11][3][4] Bestia da soma is a pack animal and figuratively a person worked too hard.^[10][5] Ariosto has levare le some for setting off.^[5]

Timeline

• 1233–1243 – Matasala uses the word for a unit of measure.^[3]
• 1269 – Nocentini's date for the word.^[2]
• Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for the load of a pack animal.^[3]
• 14th century – Someggiare “to carry by pack animal” is recorded.^[3][2]
• Before 1374 – Petrarch uses it for oppression.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. The load put on the back of a donkey, mule or horse;^[4][10][5] bestia da soma, a pack animal, figuratively someone made to do all the heavy work.^[4][10][5]
2. The amount a pack animal can carry: una soma di fieno.^[4][10][11]
3. (historical) A unit of measure for goods and liquids, equal to the load of a pack animal, of varying value by region.^[4][5][12]
4. (figurative, literary) A heavy burden or duty.^[4][10][11]
5. (figurative, literary) Oppression, servitude.^[4][10][5]
6. (figurative, literary) The body, as the mortal weight of the soul.^[4][10][12]

Word family

• someggiare

soma² body of an organism

Etymology tree of soma²

inherited borrowed derived

Ancient Greek σῶμα (sôma)

Italian soma

Latin soma

English soma

From the same root · soma²

English -some ← σῶμα

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɔ.ma/^[1]

Forms

soma m (plural somi)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the body is borrowed from Ancient Greek σῶμα (sôma, “body”).^[3][2][4][5] Wiktionary takes it through scientific Latin.^[1] Nocentini notes that the Greek word meant both the living body and a corpse, and that the modern term is set against psiche.^[2] The GDLI calls the Greek word of uncertain origin.^[13]

Earliest recorded meaning

Zingarelli dates the word to 1841, GRADIT to E. Weiss's Elementi di psicoanalisi (1931), and DELI to the Enciclopedia italiana (1936), where it is the whole body of a living being apart from its reproductive cells.^[5][4][3]

Semantic evolution

In biology the term belongs to the theory of Nussbaum and Weismann, which sets the soma, the cells that make up organs and tissues and die with the individual, against the germ cells.^[13][10] In psychology it is the body as opposed to the psyche.^[13][4] The adjective somatico is recorded in 1838 and probably came through French somatique or English somatic;^[3] DEI dates it to 1777 without a source.^[3]

Timeline

• 1841 – Zingarelli's date for the word.^[5]
• 1931 – E. Weiss uses it in Elementi di psicoanalisi.^[4]
• 1936 – The Enciclopedia italiana has it in biology.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (biology) All the cells of a multicellular organism that form its tissues and organs, as opposed to the germ cells.^[4][10][12]
2. (biology) The body, with regard to its supporting and moving structures, as opposed to the viscera.^[4][5]
3. (psychology) The body as opposed to the psyche.^[4][10][5]
4. (histology) The cell body of a neuron.^[10]

Word family

• somatico
• somatizzare
• somatizzazione