argentum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [arˈɡɛn.tũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [arˈd͡ʒɛn.tum]^[1]

Forms

argentum n (genitive argentī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *argento-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂r̥ǵ-n̥t-o- (“silver”).^[2][1] Cognate with Oscan aragetud (“with money”), Faliscan arcentelom (“small silver coin”), Old Irish argat (“silver”), Welsh arian (“silver”) and Tocharian A ārkyant, and related to Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árguros, “silver”).^[2][3] De Vaan notes that the Oscan and Faliscan words could be borrowed from Latin, but nothing proves it.^[2] Isidore remarks that the name is close to the Greek.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius, and Köbler from Livius Andronicus.^[2][5] Naevius uses it of money taken on loan.^[3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant the metal silver, things made of silver such as plate and ornaments, silver coin, as in argentum signātum “coined silver”, and money in general, the usual sense in comedy.^[3] Argentum vīvum was quicksilver, which Isidore explains by its running like a living thing.^[4]

In medieval alchemy silver was linked with the Moon.^[6] Through Old French it gave English argent, silver in heraldry, and it survives in Italian argento, French argent and Romanian argint.^[7][1]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of money taken on loan.^[3][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus tells a slave to wash the silver plate.^[3][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero hears there is no gold or silver in Britain.^[3][5]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains argentum vīvum.^[4][5]
• early 15th century – English argent is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. silver (the metal).^[3]
2. Silver plate, silverware.^[3]
3. Silver coin, argentum signātum, coined silver.^[3]
4. money.^[3]
5. argentum vīvum, quicksilver.^[4]

Word family

• argentārius
• argentātus
• argenteus
• argentīfodīna
• argentifex
• argentōsus
• deargentō
• inargento
• argentāria
• argentārium
• argentīnus

Related words

• argī̆lla
• English argent

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com