Etymologically
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pernicies

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɛrˈnɪ.ki.eːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [perˈniː.t͡ʃi.es][1]

Forms

perniciēs f (genitive perniciēī); fifth declension[1] The form pernitiēs appears in Columella, and Sisenna and Cicero have an old genitive perniciī.[2]

Etymology

It is from per- “thoroughly” and necō “to kill”, with the suffix -iēs.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.[3] The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant physical destruction, fatal injury, of people and animals, more rarely of things, and by metonymy a source of ruin, as in Cicero.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant disaster, destruction.[4] British Medieval Latin used it for destruction, death, and figuratively ruin, undoing.[5] It was borrowed into Italian pernicie.[1] Its adjective perniciōsus gave English pernicious in the early 15th century.[6]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.[3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of destruction and of a source of ruin.[2][3]
  • early 15th century – English pernicious is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Destruction, death, ruin.[2]
  2. A source of ruin, a bane.[2]

Word family

  • permitiālis
  • perniciābilis
  • perniciālis
  • perniciōsus
  • perniciōsē

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com