Etymologically
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conamen

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [koːˈnaː.mɛn][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [koˈnaː.men][1]

Forms

cōnāmen n (genitive cōnāminis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin cōnor (“to try, attempt”) + -men (“noun suffix”).[2][1] De Vaan reconstructs the verb as Proto-Italic *kōnāje/o- (“to attempt”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *ḱōn- (“ascent”), but marks the root with a query.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Lucretius,[3][4] who uses it of the effort of birds' wings that comes to nothing.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It was mostly a poetic word.[5] It meant an exertion of strength or a struggle, as when a great stone is thrown with a great effort in Ovid, or the power to move;[2] and, often in the plural, an attempt or enterprise, as Ovid's attempts at death and Velleius' judgement that Catullus was not inferior in any attempt of the work he undertook.[2][5] Ovid once used it concretely for a support or prop, of an infant first standing upright.[5][6]

Medieval writers used it for effort and impetus, often in the phrase tōtō cōnāmine, with all one's might;[7] Köbler also lists the senses of an intention or plan and an unlawful proceeding.[4]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the effort of wings.[2][4]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it for a mighty effort, for attempts and for a prop.[2][4]
  • c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius Paterculus uses it of a literary attempt.[2][4]
  • 639–709 AD – Aldhelm writes of keeping God's commands with all the effort of the mind.[7][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An exertion of strength, an effort, a struggle; the power to move.[2][5]
  2. An attempt, endeavour, enterprise.[2]
  3. A support, prop.[5][6]

Word family

  • cōnāmentum

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ 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