poeta

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [poˈeː.ta]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [poˈɛː.ta]^[1]

Forms

poēta m (genitive poētae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ποιητής (poiētḗs, “maker, poet”), from ποιεῖν (poieîn, “to make”).^[2][1][3] An inscription has the Greek nominative ⟨poētēs⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.^[3] The OLD's earliest citations for its special senses are from Plautus.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant a writer of verse, a poet, as in Cicero, and especially a playwright, as in Plautus and Terence.^[2][4] In early Latin it also meant a maker or contriver, as Plautus' “no poet ever made a cleverer trick”, and figuratively an artist, a master of some skill.^[5][2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a poet.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it of a divinely inspired poet, of a Welsh household bard, and of one who invents or lies.^[7] It survives in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese poeta, and English poet came through Old French in the early 14th century.^[1][8]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius has the word.^[3]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a playwright and of a contriver.^[2][5][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a poet.^[4][3]
• early 14th century – English poet is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A poet, a writer of verse.^[2]
2. A playwright.^[2]
3. A maker, contriver; a person of great skill.^[2][5]
4. (Medieval Latin) A bard.^[7]

Related words

• poēma
• poēsis
• poēticus
• English poet
• English poetry

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com