Diespiter

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [diˈeːs.pɪ.tɛr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈɛs.pi.ter]^[1]

Forms

Diēspiter m (genitive Diēspitris); third declension^[1] An inscription has Dies pater, and Festus has Dispiter.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *djous patēr (“Sky Father”), from Proto-Indo-European *dyḗws (“sky god”) and Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr (“father”), the same compound as Iuppiter.^[1][3] Lewis & Short connect the first part with diēs “day” and dīvus, and compare Sanskrit दिवस् (divas) and Ancient Greek πατήρ (patḗr).^[4] Cognate with Ancient Greek Ζεῦ πάτερ (Zeû páter) and Sanskrit द्यौष्पितृ (dyáuṣpitṛ́).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was an old name of Jupiter.^[2][4]

British Medieval Latin glossaries understood it as the day-star.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3]

Meanings

Proper noun

1. Jupiter.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) The day-star.^[5]

Related words

• Iuppiter
• diēs
• deus
• pater
• English Jupiter

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press