Etymologically
Log in

novem

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 00:37. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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]
  • 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).