filix

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfɪ.lɪks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfiː.liks]^[1]

Forms

filix f (genitive filicis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *fel-e/ik-, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“henbane”), with a suffix found in other plant names, as lārix “larch” and cārex “sedge”.^[2][1] Cognate with Welsh bele (“henbane”), Russian белена (belená, “henbane”) and Old High German bilisa (“henbane”).^[2] Walde and Hofmann rejected the link on semantic grounds, but Schrijver restored it: the stems of henbane look like the feathery leaves of fern, and both are medicinal plants.^[2] The spelling felix may be the older form.^[2][3] The OLD calls it of unknown origin.^[3] Isidore of Seville derived it from its single leaf.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Vitruvius, who says fern should be laid under timber.^[3] Köbler's first source is Virgil, 70–19 BC.^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a fern or bracken, often collectively, in Virgil, Horace, Columella and Pliny the Elder.^[3][6] Colloquially it meant a worthless person, a no-good.^[3] Persius uses it of bristly hair.^[7]

In Medieval Latin filix arborea was polypody and filix silvestris the royal fern.^[8] Its descendants include Italian felce, French fougère and Romanian ferigă.^[1]

Timeline

• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it.^[6][5]
• 1st century BC – Vitruvius uses it in building.^[2][3]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it.^[6][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A fern, bracken.^[3]
2. (colloquial) A worthless person.^[3]
3. Bristly hair.^[7]

Word family

• filicātus
• filictum
• filicula

Usage notes

It is distinct from fēlīx “fruitful, happy”, though manuscripts often spell it felix.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ 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