hostis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈhɔs.tɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔs.tis]^[1]

Forms

hostis m or f (genitive hostis); third declension^[1] An old form fostis is reported by Paul the Deacon's Festus.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *χosti-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *gʰosti- (“stranger, guest”).^[2][1] Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍃𐍄𐍃 (gasts, “guest”), Old Church Slavonic гость (gostĭ, “guest”) and English guest.^[2][3][1] De Vaan finds a derivation from the root of Sanskrit घस् (ghas-, “to eat”) unlikely.^[2] Varro says it once meant a stranger.^[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Twelve Tables use it in the sense “foreigner”.^[3][2] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was a foreigner or stranger, as in the Twelve Tables and, according to Cicero, in the old language.^[3][4] It then became an enemy in war, a public enemy, a personal enemy, and an opponent of anything.^[3] Döderlein contrasts adversārius, any opponent, and inimīcus, a personal enemy.^[6]

In medieval Latin it was an incursion, any army, a fleet and warriors, and hostis antīquus was Satan.^[7][8] It survives as Romanian oaste and Spanish hueste.^[1] Through Old French ost “army” it gave English host “multitude”, while host “one who receives guests” comes from hospes.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it of a foreigner.^[3][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a personal enemy.^[3][5]
• mid-13th century – English host “army” is recorded, from Old French ost.^[9]
• late 15th century – English hostile is recorded, from hostīlis.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Old Latin) A foreigner, stranger.^[3][10]
2. An enemy (in war); a public enemy.^[3][1]
3. A personal enemy.^[3]
4. An opponent (of something).^[3]
5. (Medieval Latin) An army; an incursion, hostis antīquus, Satan.^[7][8]

Word family

• hosticapas
• hosticus
• hostifer
• hostificus
• hostīlis
• hospes

Related words

• English host
• English hostile
• English guest

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b 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 c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press