Etymologically
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leo

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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

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