lapis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɫa.pɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlaː.pis]^[1]

Forms

lapis m (genitive lapidis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *la/eped-, and de Vaan considers it probably a Mediterranean loanword of the shape *lVpVd-.^[2] It is related to Umbrian vapeře (“on the stone seat”), and Wiktionary and the OLD compare Ancient Greek λέπας (lépas, “bare rock”).^[2][1][3] Isidore derives it from laedere pedem “to hurt the foot”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius, and Köbler from Ennius, who has the old ablative lapī.^[2][5][3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a stone or pebble, a stone used as a missile, stone as a material, a block of masonry, a milestone, as in ad tertium lapidem “at the third milestone”, and a boundary stone or gravestone.^[3][6] It was also a precious stone and the stone platform from which slaves were sold.^[6] Figuratively it was a dullard, as hard and insensitive as stone.^[6][7]

Döderlein contrasts the larger saxum and rūpēs with the smaller lapis.^[8] Isidore explains the Christian titles of Christ as lapis angulāris “the cornerstone” and lapis offēnsiōnis “the stone of stumbling”.^[4] Its derivative lapidārius gave English lapidary, and dīlapidō gave English dilapidated.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says not to beat a stone or you will hurt your hand.^[3][5]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar says stone defends a wall from fire.^[3][5]
• late 14th century – English lapidary is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A stone, pebble.^[3]
2. Stone (as a material); a block of stone.^[3]
3. A milestone; a boundary stone; a gravestone.^[6]
4. A precious stone, gem.^[6]
5. A blockhead.^[6]
6. (Ecclesiastical Latin) lapis angulāris, the cornerstone (Christ).^[4]

Word family

• lapicīda
• lapicīdīnae
• lapidāris
• lapidārius
• lapideus
• lapidō
• lapidōsus
• lapillus
• lapidēscō
• lapiō

Related words

• lapidātiō
• lapidātor
• English lapidary
• English dilapidated

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
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
8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com