auris

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈau̯.rɪs], [ˈau̯.riːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaːu̯.ris], [ˈaːu̯.ris]^[1]

Forms

auris f (genitive auris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *aus(i)- (“ear”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eu(-)s- (“ear”).^[2][1] Cognate with Old Irish áu (“ear”), Ancient Greek οὖς (oûs, “ear”), Lithuanian ausìs (“ear”), Old Church Slavonic ѹхо (uxo, “ear”), Gothic 𐌰𐌿𐍃𐍉 (ausō, “ear”) and Old English ēare (English ear).^[2][1][3] De Vaan suggests it may be an s-stem of *h₂eu- “to perceive”, as in audiō.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^[2][4] who speaks of ears with rings.^[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was the ear as part of the body and the organ of hearing, and also a discriminating ear for style, as in Cicero.^[3] Phrases include in aurem dīcere “to say in a whisper” and aurēs dare “to listen”.^[3] It was also a votive model of an ear offered for the cure of deafness, and in Virgil the earth-boards of a plough.^[3]

Lewis and Short note that auris is the ear as the organ of hearing, while auricula is the outer ear.^[5] The Appendix Probi censures oricla for auris, showing the colloquial diminutive that gave the Romance words.^[6] English aural is from auris, and English auricle from auricula.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of ears with rings.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a discriminating ear.^[3][4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the earth-boards of a plough.^[3][4]
• 1650s – English auricle is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The ear.^[3]
2. Hearing, in aurem, in a whisper.^[3]
3. A discriminating ear (for style).^[3]
4. A votive model of an ear.^[3]
5. The earth-board of a plough.^[3]

Word family

• auricula
• auriscalpium
• aurītus
• inaurio
• inauris
• ōricilla

Related words

• audiō
• English aural
• English auricle

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 k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Appendix Probi, a late antique list of correct and censured Latin word forms ("calida non calda"); ed. H. Keil, Grammatici Latini IV, Leipzig 1864, 197–199.
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com