Etymologically
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plaga

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpɫaː.ɡa][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈplaː.ɡa][1]

Forms

plāga f (genitive plāgae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *plāgā, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *pl(e)h₂g-h₂- (“blow”), from the root of plangō “to strike”.[2][1][3] Cognate with Ancient Greek πληγή (plēgḗ, “blow, stroke”) and Albanian plojë (“slaughter”).[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it of ribs calloused by blows.[3][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a blow or stroke given with force, as of a whip, and the wound or gash it made.[3][4] Figuratively it was a blow of fortune, a loss or misfortune.[1][4] Döderlein says it is a wound from any instrument used to strike, against vulnus, from a weapon.[6]

In Late Latin, and in the Vulgate, it was an affliction or plague sent by God.[7][8] Through Old French it gave English plague, first “affliction”, then “malignant disease”.[7] It survives as Italian piaga, French plaie and Spanish llaga.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of blows.[3][5]
  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of pestilence.[7][5]
  • late 14th century – English plague “affliction” is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A blow, stroke.[3][4]
  2. A wound, gash.[3][1]
  3. A misfortune, loss.[1][4]
  4. (Late Latin) A divine punishment, plague.[8][7]

Word family

  • plāgiger
  • plāgōsus
  • sesquiplāga

Usage notes

There are two homographs plaga with a short /a/: one “a region, tract”, the source of Italian piaggia and Spanish playa, and one “a hunting net”.[3][1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill