novem

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈnɔ.wẽː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔː.vem]^[1]

Forms

novem (indeclinable)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *newn̥ (“nine”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥ (“nine”).^[2][1] The ending ⟨-em⟩ for expected ⟨-en⟩ is due to septem and decem, and the older form survives in nōnus “ninth”.^[3][1] Cognate with Old Irish nóí, Sanskrit नव (náva), Ancient Greek ἐννέα (ennéa), Gothic 𐌽𐌹𐌿𐌽 (niun) and English nine.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Naevius uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was the number nine, as Cicero's nine spheres of the heavens, and in compounds, as Caesar's nineteen miles, decem novem, beside the usual ūndēvīgintī.^[3][5]

Its derivative November was the ninth month of the old Roman year, which began in March, and gave English November.^[6][2] nūndinae “market day” comes from “the ninth day”.^[2] It survives as Italian nove, French neuf and Spanish nueve.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses November.^[2][4]
• c. 1200 – English November is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Numeral

1. Nine.^[3][7]

Related words

• nōnus
• nūndinae
• English nine
• English November

Usage notes

Isidore says Scripture names nine orders of angels.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).