Etymologically
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gnomon

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈnoː.moːn][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈɲɔː.mon][1]

Forms

gnōmōn m (genitive gnōmonis); third declension[1] Medieval texts also have a neuter gnomen.[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek γνώμων (gnṓmōn, “interpreter; pointer of a sundial”),[3][4][1] from γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “to know”),[1][5] from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know”).[1] Etymonline notes that the Greek word literally meant “one who discerns”, and was also used of a carpenter's rule.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Vitruvius (c. 84–c. 25 BC) is the first to use it, for the pointer of a sundial.[6][7]

Semantic evolution

Besides the pointer that casts the shadow on a sundial,[3][4] Vitruvius used it for a set square or surveying instrument.[6][8] Pliny the Elder explains it as the rod whose shadow is measured, “which they call gnomon”.[9][4] Late writers have a nominative gnomo.[10]

In Medieval Latin it also meant a sundial or other timepiece,[2][11] and in geometry the L-shaped figure left when a parallelogram is cut from a larger one.[2][11] The Bohemian dictionary also records the sense “saying, maxim”.[12] English took it in the 1540s.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it for the pointer of a sundial and for a set square.[6][7]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder names the shadow-casting rod gnomon.[4][9][7]
  • early 5th century AD – Macrobius uses the accusative gnomona.[10][7]
  • 5th century AD – Martianus Capella uses it.[4][7]
  • 1540s – English borrows gnomon.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The pointer of a sundial, which casts the shadow.[3][4][6]
  2. A set square or surveying instrument.[6][8][9]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A sundial or other timepiece.[2][11]
  4. (Medieval Latin, geometry) The figure that completes a parallelogram, shaped like a set square.[2][11]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A saying, maxim.[12]

Word family

  • gnōmonicus
  • English gnomon

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  9. ^ a b c VoLat: Vocabolario della Lingua Latina (2018), Milan: Hoepli
  10. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  11. ^ a b c d 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
  12. ^ a b Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences