Etymologically
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cerebrum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɛ.rɛ.brũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃɛː.re.brum][1]

Forms

cerebrum n (genitive cerebrī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *kerasro-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂-s-ro- (“brain”), literally “the thing in the head”.[2][1] Nussbaum explains it as a noun made from an adjective “in the head”, based on a locative of *ḱerh₂-s- “head”.[2] Cognate with Sanskrit शिरस् (śíras, “head”), Ancient Greek κάρα (kára, “head”), Ancient Greek κέρας (kéras, “horn”) and Old High German hirni (“brain”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus,[2] who has a man saying that someone's words knock his brains out.[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was the brain, then the top of the head or skull, and the seat of the intelligence, senses or temper, so that cerebrum could also mean hot temper.[3][5] Cicero reports that some thought the soul had its seat in the brain.[5] Pliny uses it of the edible bud at the top of a palm.[3] Ennius has the split form cere comminuit brum.[6]

Its diminutive cerebellum meant a small brain.[1] English cerebrum was borrowed in the 1610s, and cerebral came from French in 1801.[7]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius has cere comminuit brum.[6][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says words knock someone's brains out.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero reports the view that the soul is in the brain.[5][4]
  • 1610s – English cerebrum is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The brain.[3]
  2. The top of the head, skull.[3]
  3. The seat of the intellect or senses; temper.[3][5]
  4. The terminal bud of a palm.[3]

Word family

  • cerebellum
  • cerebrālis
  • cerebrōsus
  • excerebrō

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com