sanguis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsaŋ.ɡʷiːs], [ˈsaŋ.ɡʷɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsaŋ.ɡʷis]^[1]

Forms

sanguī̆s m (genitive sanguinis); third declension^[1] An older neuter sanguen appears in Ennius, Cato, Varro and Lucretius.^[2][3][4] Inscriptions also have an accusative sanguem.^[4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sangʷen-, and its first part probably continues the oblique stem Proto-Indo-European *h₁sh₂-én- of Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésh₂r̥ (“blood”).^[2][1] The rest is unexplained, and it is disputed whether sanguen is the oldest form or was remade after unguen “grease”.^[2] Cognate with Hittite ešḫar (“blood”), Sanskrit असृज् (ásr̥j-, “blood”), Ancient Greek ἔαρ (éar, “blood”) and Tocharian B yasar (“blood”).^[2] The Oxford Latin Dictionary calls it doubtful.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus speaks of sisters who suck men's blood.^[3][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was blood in the body, blood shed in violence or in self-sacrifice, the lifeblood and life itself, and blood as the source of strength and vigour.^[3] It was blood as the seat of instincts and of the emotions, and descent, kinship, family and race.^[3][1] Döderlein contrasts it, the living blood in the body, with cruor, blood flowing from a wound.^[6]

In medieval Latin it was also one of the four humours of medicine, and was used in law.^[7] It survives as Italian sangue, Spanish sangre, Portuguese sangue and Romanian sânge.^[1] English sanguine comes from sanguineus.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][5]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses the neuter sanguen.^[3][5]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of pouring out one's last words with one's blood.^[3][5]
• late 14th century – English sanguine is recorded, from sanguineus.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Blood.^[3][4]
2. Blood shed in violence; bloodshed.^[3]
3. Lifeblood, life; strength, vigour.^[3]
4. Blood as the seat of instincts or feelings.^[3]
5. Descent, kinship, family; a descendant.^[1][4]
6. (Medieval Latin, medicine) One of the four humours.^[7]

Word family

• exanguis
• exsanguis
• sanguiculus
• sanguilentus
• sanguinālis
• sanguinārius
• sanguinātio
• sanguineus
• sanguinō
• sanguinolentia
• sanguinolentus
• sanguinōsus

Related words

• cruor
• English sanguine

Usage notes

Isidore gives two explanations: one from a Greek word, because it keeps the body alive, the other from suāvis “sweet”.^[9]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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 h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
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
9. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).