genetivus

Forms

genetīvus (feminine genetīva, neuter genetīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin gignō (“to beget”) + -īvus, built on the participle genitus.^[2][3][1] In grammar it is a calque of Ancient Greek γενική (genikḗ).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ovid uses it of a form one had at birth, when Tiresias regains his former shape, “genetivaque venit imago”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Macrobius quotes an older author for an altar of Apollo Genetivus at Delos, the god as begetter: Varro according to the OLD, Cato according to L&S.^[2][5] Suetonius has genetivae notae for birthmarks, and Ovid uses it of names belonging to a family.^[5]

In grammar, genetivus casus and the noun genetivus named the genitive case from Quintilian on.^[2][5] Varro had called this case patricius.^[5] L&S insists on the spelling with e.^[5]

Timeline

• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of a shape one was born with.^[2][4]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it for the genitive case.^[2][4]
• c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius speaks of birthmarks.^[5][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of or connected with birth; acquired at birth, native.^[2][5]
2. (cult title) Begetter, of Apollo.^[2][5]
3. Belonging to a family or gens.^[5]
4. (grammar) Of the genitive case.^[2][5]

Noun

1. (grammar) The genitive case.^[5][1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
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 e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press