pugna

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpʊŋ.na]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpuɲ.ɲa]^[1]

Forms

pugna f (genitive pugnae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a back-formation from pugnō (“to fight”), which is from pugnus (“fist”).^[2][3][1] The TLL compares feminine nouns formed from verbs such as fuga and praeda.^[3] Lewis & Short read it as originally a fight fist to fist.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, of a fight between persons.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a fight between two or more people, from Terence a battle between armies, and figuratively a conflict of words or actions, especially in the law courts, as in Horace.^[2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means fight, battle.^[6] Medieval Latin used it for single combat, the judicial duel.^[7] In British Medieval Latin it also meant assault and the right to a fine for it.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a fight.^[2][5]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a battle.^[2][5]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a conflict of words.^[2][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A fight between persons, combat.^[2]
2. A battle between armies.^[2][4]
3. A conflict in words or actions, a struggle.^[2]
4. (Medieval Latin) Single combat, a judicial duel.^[7]

Word family

• pugnicula

Related words

• pugnācitās
• pugnāciter
• pugnāculum
• pugnantia
• pugnātor
• pugnātōrius
• pugnātrix
• pugnāx
• pugneus
• pugnitus
• pugnō
• pugnus
• pugil

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
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