Sirius

Forms

Sīrius m sg (genitive Sīriī or Sīrī); second declension^[1] As an adjective it is declined Sīrius, Sīria, Sīrium.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Σείριος (Seírios),^[2][3][1] probably the same word as the Greek adjective meaning “scorching, glowing”.^[1][4] The further origin is unclear.^[5][6] Beekes reports a connection with σείω (seíō), assuming an original sense “sparkling, flickering”, from a form Proto-Indo-European *tuis-ro- like the Avestan word for “glitter”, but marks it with a question mark and considers a Pre-Greek source as well;^[4] Etymonline notes that it may be a borrowing reshaped by folk etymology.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first record is Virgil,^[5] who in the Georgics names the Dog Star.^[7][8]

Semantic evolution

It was the Dog Star, whose rising marked the hottest time of the year;^[2] Georges calls canicula the native Latin name.^[9] Hyginus, Tibullus and Lucan use it,^[10] and Virgil has the adjective in Sirius ardor, the heat of Sirius, in the Aeneid.^[10][2]

Medieval writers kept it: Aldhelm's verse and the Old English glosses have it, the latter calling it a burning star.^[11] English took the name from Latin in the late 14th century.^[6]

Timeline

• 70–19 BC – Virgil names Sirius in the Georgics and has the adjective Sirius ardor in the Aeneid.^[7][10][5]
• c. 55–19/18 BC – Tibullus uses it.^[10][5]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses the adjective in his poem on gardens.^[7][5]
• 639–709 AD – Aldhelm's verse mentions the star.^[11][5]
• late 14th century – English borrows Sirius.^[6]

Meanings

Proper noun

1. Sirius, the Dog Star.^[2][10]

Adjective

1. Of Sirius: Sīrius ārdor, the heat of the Dog Star.^[2][10]

Related words

• canicula
• English Sirius

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
4. ^ a b Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
9. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
10. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
11. ^ 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