mixtura

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [mɪkˈstuː.ra], [mɪkˈstuː.raː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [mikˈstuː.ra], [mikˈstuː.ra]^[1]

Forms

mixtūra f (genitive mixtūrae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from misceō “to mix”, participle ⟨mixtus⟩, with the suffix -ūra.^[2][1][3][4] It is also spelled ⟨mistūra⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Lucretius, whom he dates 96–55 BC, and Gaffiot cites Lucretius for mixing.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

It meant mixing, mingling, a manner of mixing, as in Lucretius, Pliny the Elder and Quintilian, and in Seneca an admixture.^[2][6] In Petronius it meant blending, combining, and in Columella a mixture, compound.^[2]

Medieval Latin used it for an alloy and for maslin, mixed grain.^[7] It survives in Italian mistura and Spanish mestura, and Old French misture with the Latin gave English mixture in the early 15th century.^[1][4]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of mixing.^[6][5]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of a compound.^[2][5]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of composition.^[2][5]
• early 15th century – English mixture is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Mixing, mingling; admixture.^[2]
2. Blending, combining.^[2]
3. A mixture, compound.^[2]
4. (Medieval Latin) An alloy; mixed grain.^[7]

Related words

• misceō
• mixtus
• English mixture
• English mix

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill