Etymologically
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lapis

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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
  • 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