Etymologically
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lar

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫaːr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlar][1]

Forms

lār m (genitive laris); third declension[1] The Carmen Arvale has the old plural Lasēs, Lasibus.[2][3]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain, perhaps borrowed from Etruscan 𐌋𐌀𐌓 (lar).[3][1] De Vaan notes that the alternation between long and short /a/ fits no productive pattern and may point to a loanword, and finds a link with lascīvus possible but unlikely.[2][4] lārua “evil spirit” may be a derivative.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in the Carmen Arvale and in Plautus.[2][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin the Lares were a class of Roman gods who protected places, above all the household, the Lar familiāris worshipped at the hearth, as in Ennius, Plautus and Horace.[3] By metonymy it was a dwelling or home, as in Varro.[3][1] Etymonline describes them as infernal gods, protectors of the state and the family.[4]

In medieval Latin it was a home or household, often in the plural.[6] It survives as Portuguese lar and Spanish lar, and Spanish also has llar.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[3][5]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius speaks of the Lares that care for the house.[3][5]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a dwelling.[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A Lar, one of the Roman gods protecting a place, especially the household.[3][1]
  2. A home, dwelling, household.[3][1]

Word family

  • larifuga
  • Larēs
  • lārua
  • English lares

Usage notes

Lār or Lars was also an Etruscan praenomen and title, as Lars Porsenna.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.