Etymologically
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frux

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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

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