augmen

Forms

augmen n (genitive augminis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin augeō (“to increase”) + -men.^[2][3][1] Wiktionary also sees in it an inherited formation, Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwgmn̥;^[1] the TLL compares nouns in Lithuanian, “increment”, and in Sanskrit, “strength”.^[4] De Vaan traces augeō to Proto-Italic *augeje/o- and Proto-Indo-European *h2eug-eie- (“to grow”).^[5] The verb is cognate with Ancient Greek αὔξω (aúxō, “to increase”) and Lithuanian áugti (“to grow”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler record it first in Lucretius,^[5][6] for whom it is a favourite word:^[4] formarum novitatem corporis augmen subsequitur, “an increase of bulk follows the newness of shapes”.^[4][7]

Semantic evolution

It means an addition, increase or increment, and the result of increase, total mass or bulk.^[2] The TLL calls it a Lucretian word,^[4] and Lewis & Short say it is found only before and after the classical period;^[7] Lucretius also has it in the plural, as of nights that gain in length.^[7][3] Arnobius uses it of a large snake, magnī augminis coluber,^[7] and, like augmentum, of a piece added to a sacrificial victim.^[3][8] It also appears in a Christian inscription.^[4]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it often, of growth and of bulk.^[4][5][6]
• 297–310 AD – Arnobius uses it of bulk and of a sacrificial offering.^[7][3][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. An addition, increase, increment, growth.^[2][7][1]
2. The result of increase, total mass, bulk.^[2][7]
3. A piece added to a sacrificial victim.^[3][8]

Word family

• adaugmen

Related words

• augeō
• augmentum
• auctor

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e f Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ 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
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier