Etymologically
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nugae

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnuː.ɡae̯][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnuː.d͡ʒe][1]

Forms

nūgae f pl (genitive nūgārum); first declension[1]

Etymology

It has no Indo-European etymology.[2][3] Since words for “trifle” are often formed from words for “nut” or “seed”, a link with nux “nut” is quite likely, but the long /ū/ and the /g/ against /k/ suggest a borrowing, perhaps from another Italic language.[2][1] Lewis and Short give an old form naugae and compare naucum “trifle”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant what is useless or absurd, nūgās agere “to waste one's effort”, worthless stuff or trash, and of persons good-for-nothings.[3] It also meant jokes, frivolities and trifles, as Plautus' aufer nūgās, “stop your joking”, and the exclamation nūgās!, “nonsense!”.[3][4][6] Catullus calls his light poems nūgae.[6]

In Medieval Latin it was a trifle, often in modest titles for literary works, and a singular nūga appears.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses aufer nūgās.[4][5]
  • 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus calls his poems nūgae.[6][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[6][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Nonsense, absurdity, nūgās agere, to waste one's effort.[3]
  2. Worthless stuff, trash; worthless people.[3]
  3. Jokes, frivolities.[3]
  4. Trifles; light verses.[3][6]

Word family

  • nūgālis
  • nūgigerulus
  • nugiuendus
  • nūgācitās
  • nūgāmenta
  • nūgātor
  • nūgātōrius
  • nūgāx
  • nūgō
  • nūgor
  • nux
  • English nugatory

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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 e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ 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