libella

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [liːˈbɛl.la]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈbɛl.la]^[1]

Forms

lībella f (genitive lībellae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a diminutive of lībra “balance, pound”, from ⟨*lībrella⟩ with dissimilation.^[2][1][3] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨lībra⟩ as Proto-Italic ⟨*leiþra-⟩ “pound”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Cato, of a small coin, and Köbler's earliest source is Plautus.^[2][4] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC and Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was a small silver coin, a tenth of a denarius, an as, as in Varro and Pliny, and so a trifling sum; in inheritances ex lībellā meant “to the extent of a tenth”; and in Lucretius a level, a plummet and line on a frame used to find the horizontal or perpendicular.^[2][5][6]

English level (mid-14th century) is from it through Old French livel, and Italian livella too, and Italian libellula and French libellule “dragonfly” are formed from it.^[7][1]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a coin.^[2][4]
• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a level.^[2][4]
• mid-14th century – English level is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A small silver coin, a tenth of a denarius; a trifling sum.^[2][6]
2. A tenth part (of an inheritance).^[2]
3. A level, plumb line.^[2]

Word family

• simbella

Related words

• lībra
• lībrō
• English level

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com