heus

Pronunciation

• Classical: [ˈhɛu̯s]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛu̯s]^[1]

Forms

heus (interjection)^[2]

Etymology

The TLL takes it as a calling interjection like German ⟨husch⟩.^[3] Köbler calls its origin unclear and, after Walde and Hofmann, points to a natural sound ⟨*hss⟩ used as a carter's call in several languages.^[4] Festus, as the TLL reports, called it an adverb of calling taken over from Greek.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus,^[4] who has “hey, Staphyla, I'm calling you”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It is used to get someone's attention, often with a name or tibi dīcō “I'm talking to you”, as in Terence, and doubled in heus heus.^[2][5] It also draws attention to a remark, as Terence's “hey, I'm my own nearest neighbour” and Virgil's “hey, we're even eating our tables”.^[2] Köbler records it in medieval texts such as Hrotsvit and the Waltharius.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus calling to Staphyla.^[2][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence of calling someone and of drawing attention to a remark.^[2][5][4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil of a remark that they are eating their tables.^[2][4]

Meanings

Interjection

1. Hey!, ho there!, used to call someone.^[2][5][1]
2. Used to draw attention to a remark, “listen!”.^[2][1]

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press