lapideus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɫaˈpɪ.de.ʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [laˈpiː.de.us]^[1]

Forms

lapideus (feminine lapidea, neuter lapideum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin lapis (“stone”) + -eus.^[2][1] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨lapis⟩ as Proto-Italic ⟨*la/eped-⟩, compares Umbrian ⟨vapeře⟩ “stone seat” and Ancient Greek λέπας (lépas, “bare rock”), and takes it as probably a Mediterranean loanword.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Ennius, and the OLD's earliest citation is Varro.^[4][2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant made or built of stone, as of a stream with stone banks in Varro; of a precious stone; and stony, hard, also figuratively, as in Pliny.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means of stone.^[6] British Medieval Latin used opus lapideum for stonework.^[7]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^[4]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of stone banks.^[2][5]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of the stony.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of stone, built of stone.^[2][5]
2. Of a precious stone.^[2]
3. Stony, hard.^[2]

Related words

• lapis
• lapidōsus
• lapidārius

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d 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
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ 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