amiculus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [aˈmiː.kʊ.ɫʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈmiː.ku.lus]^[1]

Forms

amīculus m (genitive amīculī, feminine amīcula); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin amīcus (“friend”) + -ulus, a diminutive.^[2][1] ⟨amīcus⟩ is from amō (“to love”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *ama- (“to take, hold”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃mh₃- (“to take hold of”).^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cicero's Verrines, quid dē Docimō amīculō meō? “what about my dear friend Docimus?”.^[4][5] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In familiar or depreciatory use it meant a dear friend, a humble friend, as in Cicero and Catullus.^[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for a humble friend, as in John of Garland.^[6]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[5][4]
• 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it.^[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A dear friend; a humble friend.^[2][5]

Related words

• amīcus
• amīcula

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. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ 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