frux

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfruːks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfruks]^[1]

Forms

frūx f (genitive frūgis); third declension^[1] It is usually plural, frūgēs, and Ennius has a nominative singular frūx and Varro frūgis.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *frūks, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg-s, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg- (“to use, enjoy”), the root of fruor “to enjoy”.^[1][4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Twelve Tables (about 450 BC), and the OLD's earliest citation, from them, is of growing crops.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

In the plural it meant the produce of the earth, fruit, crops, as in Horace and Cicero, and grain, as in Pacuvius.^[2][5] In the singular Ennius used it for fruition, maturity, and Plautus for moral worth, honesty, sobriety.^[2] The dative frūgī “fit for use” became an indeclinable adjective, “honest, frugal”.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant fruit.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for field crops, especially corn, and figuratively for a harvest.^[7] Its derivative frūgālis gave English frugal.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it of growing crops.^[2][4]
• 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of grain.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of honesty.^[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (usually plural) The produce of the earth, fruit, crops.^[2]
2. Grain.^[2]
3. Fruition, maturity.^[2]
4. Moral worth, honesty.^[2]

Word family

• defrugo
• frūgālis
• frūgāmenta
• frūgēscō
• frūgeus
• frūgifer
• frūgiferēns
• frūgilegus
• frugiparens
• frūgiparus
• frūgiperdius
• frūgī

Related words

• fruor
• frūctus
• English frugal

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ 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
8. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com