rete

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈreː.tɛ]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrɛː.te]^[1]

Forms

rēte n (genitive rētis); third declension^[1] There is also a masculine or feminine rētis, and Plautus has the ablative rētī.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *rēti-, of uncertain origin.^[2][3][1] Niedermann suggested an original masculine *rētis with a neuter plural, from which rēte was formed back.^[2] Schrijver rejects the old link with rārus “thin”.^[2] A connection with Lithuanian rėtis (“sieve”) is possible, and Wiktionary also mentions a Semitic loan, comparing Hebrew רֶשֶׁת (rešet, “net”).^[2][1][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it: a fisherman has caught nothing but what he carries in his net.^[3][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a net for fishing, hunting or fowling, as in Varro, and a net for enclosing or protecting.^[3][7] Figuratively it was a snare or trap, as in Plautus, Lucretius and Propertius.^[7] Döderlein calls it the general word for nets, against cassēs and plagae, hunting nets.^[8]

In medieval Latin it was also a spider's web and an ambush.^[9] English rete, reticule from rēticulum and the New Latin sense “the Internet” come from it.^[5][1] It survives as Italian rete, French rets and Spanish red.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a fishing net.^[3][6]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses rēticulum.^[2][6]
• late 14th century – English rete is recorded for a part of an astrolabe.^[5]
• 1801 – English reticule is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A net (for fishing, hunting, fowling).^[3][4]
2. A net for enclosing or protecting.^[3]
3. A snare, trap.^[7][1]
4. (New Latin) The Internet.^[1]

Word family

• circumrētiō
• contrārēte
• irrētiō
• obrētiō
• rēteiaclor
• rētiāculum
• rētiārius
• rētifex
• rētiolum
• interrēte
• rēticulum

Related words

• English rete
• English reticule

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
9. ^ 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