Etymologically
Log in

nonus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:04. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnoː.nʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔː.nus][1]

Forms

nōnus (feminine nōna, neuter nōnum); first/second-declension numeral[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *nowenos (“ninth”), from novem “nine”, contracted from ⟨*novenus⟩.[2][1][3] De Vaan explains ⟨nūndinae⟩ “market day” from ⟨*noweno-dino-⟩ “of the ninth day”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Caecilius, “ninth”.[2] Köbler dates Caecilius 230/220–168 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant ninth, as in Caecilius and Cicero's terra nōna, the earth as the ninth sphere, and nōna pars or nōna a ninth part, as in Vitruvius.[2][6][7] Nōna (hōra) was the ninth hour of daylight, about 3 p.m.[3]

British Medieval Latin used it for ninth, nōnus decimus “nineteenth”, and adverbially in the ninth place.[8] Nōna hōra gave Old English nōn and English noon, which shifted from 3 p.m. to midday from the 12th century.[3] It survives in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese nono.[1]

Timeline

  • 230/220–168 BC – Caecilius uses it.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[6][5]
  • mid-12th century – English noon is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Ninth.[2]
  2. nōna pars, a ninth part.[2]

Word family

  • nōna
  • nonarius
  • nōniēs

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ 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