planeta

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [pɫaˈneː.ta]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [plaˈnɛː.ta]^[1]

Forms

planēta m (genitive planētae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek πλανήτης (planḗtēs, “wanderer, planet”),^[2][1][3] from πλανάομαι (planáomai, “to wander”).^[4] The OLD treats it with the other form planēs, from Greek Ancient Greek πλάνης (plánēs).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Firmicus Maternus uses the plural planētae in his astrology.^[5] Köbler dates him 343/350 AD.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Lewis & Short note it is Late Latin, used in the plural only, for the classical stellae errantēs “wandering stars”.^[5] The TLL also finds mostly the plural.^[6] Servius uses it in his commentary on Virgil.^[5]

In medieval astronomy the planets were the seven wandering stars, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and the word was sometimes feminine.^[7] In medieval Latin planēta was also a rain cloak worn by laymen and a chasuble.^[8][3] English planet is found in late Old English.^[4]

Timeline

• 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus uses planētae.^[5][3]
• late Old English – Borrowed as planet.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A planet, wandering star.^[2][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) A rain cloak; a chasuble.^[8]

Word family

• planetarius
• planeticus

Related words

• English planet

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
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
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill