aliger

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈaː.lɪ.ɡɛr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.li.d͡ʒer]^[1]

Forms

āliger (feminine āligera, neuter āligerum); first/second-declension adjective (nominative masculine singular in -er)^[1] Valerius Flaccus has the genitive plural āligerum.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin āla (“wing”) + -ger (“bearing”).^[2][3][1] Etymonline explains ⟨āla⟩ from ⟨*axla⟩, originally the joint of the wing or arm, from Proto-Indo-European *aks- (“axis”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Virgil's Aeneid.^[5][6] Köbler dates Virgil 70–19 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

A poetic word of the Augustan age, it meant having wings, winged, as in Virgil, and moving with the speed of flight.^[2][3][6] Silius uses Āligerī for the Cupids.^[6]

British Medieval Latin used it for winged, feathered, also figuratively, as in Aldhelm.^[7]

Timeline

• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it.^[2][5]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it.^[6][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Winged.^[2]
2. (poetic) Swift as flight.^[2]

Related words

• āla
• ālātus
• gerō

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ 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