iuvencus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [jʊˈwɛŋ.kʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [juˈvɛŋ.kus]^[1]

Forms

iuvencus m (genitive iuvencī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *juwnko-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂iu-h₁n-ḱo- (“young one, young animal”), a derivative in *-ḱo- of the word in iuvenis “young”.^[2][1] The ⟨-enc-⟩ for expected ⟨-inc-⟩ is either a Sabellic form or due to iuvenis and iuventūs.^[2] Cognate with Umbrian iveka (“young cows”), Old Irish óac (“youth”), Sanskrit युवश (yuvaśá, “young”), Old High German jung (“young”) and English young.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lucretius uses it, as an adjective of a young horse.^[2][4] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin the adjective meant young, of animals, and the noun was a young bull or bullock, as in Varro and Virgil.^[3][4] Silius has iuvencus aequoreus, probably a seal, and Horace uses it of a young man.^[3] Its feminine iuvenca was a heifer.^[2]

In medieval Latin the bullock was the emblem of Saint Luke.^[6] It survives as Italian giovenco and Romanian junc.^[1]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.^[2][5]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a young bull.^[4][5]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of young men.^[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A young bull, bullock.^[3][7]
2. Iuvencus aequoreus, probably a seal.^[3]
3. A young man.^[3][1]

Adjective

1. Of animals, young.^[3][4]

Related words

• iuvenis
• iuvenca
• English young

Usage notes

Iuvencus was also the name of a Spanish priest under Constantine who put the Gospels into verse.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press