Etymologically
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lapideus

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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]

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