asparagus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [asˈpa.ra.ɡʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [asˈpaː.ra.ɡus]^[1]

Forms

asparagus m (genitive asparagī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀσπάραγος (aspáragos, “asparagus”), a variant of ἀσφάραγος (aspháragos).^[2][1][3] Etymonline calls the Greek word of uncertain origin, and Köbler mentions a possible connection with Avestan sparəga- (“shoot”).^[4][5] Varro and Festus derived it from the rough (asper) thickets in which it grows, though Varro allows that it may be Greek.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cato the Elder gives instructions for growing it in his treatise on agriculture.^[2][7] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was the garden asparagus, in Cato, Varro, Columella and Pliny, and in Suetonius' life of Augustus.^[2][7][8] Georges notes that cultivated asparagus was distinguished from the wild corruda.^[8] Pliny also used it of a tender shoot of other plants, like that of asparagus.^[2][9]

In medieval Latin it was often sparagus and was applied to wild asparagus and other herbs.^[4][10][11] English had sparage in late Old English and aspergy in the late 14th century.^[4]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato the Elder describes its cultivation.^[2][5]
• 116–27 BC – Varro mentions it and explains its name.^[2][6][5]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of shoots of other plants.^[2][5]
• late 14th century – English aspergy is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. asparagus.^[2][1]
2. A shoot or sprout like that of asparagus.^[2][1]
3. (Medieval Latin) Wild asparagus; other herbs.^[10][11]

Related words

• English asparagus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
9. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
10. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
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