gigas

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɡɪ.ɡaːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈd͡ʒiː.ɡas]^[1]

Forms

gigās m (genitive gigantis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek Γίγας (Gígas, “giant”),^[2][1][3] which Köbler considers probably Pre-Greek.^[4] A form gigāns is also found.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it from Cicero onwards.^[4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Usually in the plural, the Gigantes were the mythical race born of Earth, with serpents for legs, who stormed heaven and were struck down by Jupiter's lightning and buried under Etna.^[3][5] The singular is used by Ovid.^[6][3]

In medieval Latin it was any giant, a person of huge size, and the Book of Monsters says the Giants were so large they could wade across every sea.^[7][8] The Vulgate and the Psalters use it, and Köbler lists Albertus Magnus among its later users.^[4] Through Vulgar Latin *gagantem and Old French geant it gave English giant, recorded around 1300.^[9]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[4]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses the singular.^[6][4]
• c. 1300 – English giant is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. One of the Giants who fought the Olympian gods.^[2][3]
2. A giant.^[1][7]

Related words

• English giant

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
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
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com