Etymologically
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orbus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɔr.bʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔr.bus][1]

Forms

orbus (feminine orba, neuter orbum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *orfo- (“heir, orphan”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₃orbʰ-o- (“one who changes status”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ- (“to change ownership”).[2][1] Cognate with Ancient Greek ὀρφανός (orphanós, “orphaned”), Armenian որբ (orb, “orphan”), Old Irish orb (“heir”) and Sanskrit अर्भ (árbha, “small”).[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was bereaved of a relative or a dear one, orphaned, and childless, as Cicero's childless old man.[3][5] It was used generally of being left desolate, without helpers, or deprived of anything, and in Apuleius of being blind.[3][6]

In medieval Latin it was blind, and also bereaved and childless.[7][8] It survives as Italian orbo and Romanian orb.[1] English orphan comes from the Greek cognate through Late Latin orphanus.[9]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a childless old man.[5][4]
  • c. 1300 – English orphan is recorded, from Late Latin orphanus, from the Greek cognate.[9]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Bereaved (of a relative).[3][10]
  2. Orphaned.[3]
  3. Childless.[3]
  4. Left desolate, without protectors.[3]
  5. Deprived, destitute (of something).[3][6]
  6. Blind.[3][7]

Word family

  • orba
  • orbificō
  • orbitās
  • orbitūdō
  • orbō
  • orbātiō
  • orbātor
  • English orphan

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d 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 h i 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. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  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
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press