globus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɡɫɔ.bʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡlɔː.bus]^[1]

Forms

globus m (genitive globī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is related to glēba “clod” and glomus “ball of yarn”.^[2][1][3][4] Wiktionary suggests Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to form into a ball”), perhaps through a substrate word, given the unexplained suffix.^[1] The OLD compares Old Norse klǫpp and Middle High German klapf.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a round mass.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a compact round mass, a ball, as in Plautus, and in Cato a round cake.^[2] In Cicero it meant a sphere, as globus terrae “the globe of the earth”, which he uses to render Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (sphaîra), and the spheres of the heavens.^[2][4][6] In Virgil and Tacitus it meant a dense mass of vapour or clouds.^[2][6] From Cato it meant a close throng of soldiers or people, and in Sallust a clique.^[2] Döderlein explains that globus is the popular word for anything round, while sphaera is the scientific term.^[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a ball.^[8] British Medieval Latin used it for a ball of thread and a clot of blood.^[9] It survives in Italian groviglio, and English globe came in the late 14th century, “a large mass”.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a round mass.^[2][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a throng.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the globe of the earth.^[2][6][5]
• 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of a clique.^[2][5]
• late 14th century – English globe is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A ball, round mass; a round cake.^[2]
2. A sphere; a heavenly sphere.^[2]
3. A dense mass (of cloud, vapour).^[2]
4. A throng; a band, clique.^[2]

Word family

• globō
• globōsus
• globulus

Related words

• glēba
• glomus
• English globe
• English global

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it as the everyday word from sphaera, the scientific term.^[7]

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 j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ 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