nupta

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈnuːp.ta], [ˈnʊp.ta]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnup.ta], [ˈnup.ta]^[1]

Forms

nū̆pta f (genitive nū̆ptae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the feminine of ⟨nūptus⟩, the participle of nūbō “to marry (of a woman)”, used as a noun.^[2][1] De Vaan finds the origin of ⟨nūbō⟩ uncertain: a connection with Ancient Greek νύμφη (númphē, “bride”) must be dismissed, the comparison with Old Russian ⟨snubiti⟩ “to court” is doubtful, and Ernout and Meillet explain it as “to take the veil”, after ⟨obnūbere⟩ “to cover”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a new bride, nova nūpta.^[2][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a married woman, a wife, and nova nūpta a bride, in Plautus and Terence.^[2][4] Livy uses it of a wife.^[4]

Its derivative nūptiae “wedding” gave English nuptials, and nūptiālis gave English nuptial.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has nova nūpta “a bride”.^[2][5]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[4][5]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a wife.^[4][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A married woman, wife, nova nūpta, a bride.^[2]

Word family

• nuptula

Related words

• nūbō
• nūptiae
• nūptiālis
• cōnūbium
• English nuptial

References

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