leo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɫe.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlɛː.o]^[1]

Forms

leō m (genitive leōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek λέων (léōn, “lion”).^[2][1][3] Köbler and Etymonline note that the Greek word may itself come from a Semitic language, comparing Akkadian labbu (“lion”) and Hebrew ⟨lavi⟩.^[4][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of the animal.^[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a lion, and Lucretius calls it validus and Ovid fulvus “tawny” and magnanimus.^[2][5] In Cicero it was the constellation and zodiac sign Leo, in Pliny the Elder a kind of crab, in Columella a plant name, and in inscriptions a grade of initiate in the cult of Mithras, and Tertullian speaks of the Leōnēs Mithrae.^[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for the lion, in the phrase in ōre leōnis “in the lion's mouth” for great danger, and as a type of vices and virtues.^[6] It survives in Italian leone, Spanish león and Romanian leu, and through Old French lion it gave English lion in the late 12th century.^[1][3] French dent de lion “lion's tooth” gave English dandelion in the late 14th century.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the constellation.^[2][4]
• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian mentions the Leōnēs of Mithras.^[5][4]
• late 12th century – English lion is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A lion.^[2]
2. The constellation and zodiac sign Leo.^[2]
3. A kind of crab.^[2]
4. A grade of initiate in Mithraism.^[2]

Word family

• leōnīnus
• leonteus
• leunculus

Related words

• lea
• leaena
• leontios
• leopardus
• English lion
• English dandelion

Usage notes

Lewis & Short also list a verb leō “to smear”, given by Priscian as the root of dēleō.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
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