Etymologically
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sidus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsiː.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsiː.dus][1]

Forms

sīdus n (genitive sīderis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It may be inherited from Proto-Italic *sīd/þos- (“mark, target”).[2][1] Rix connected it with Ancient Greek ἰθύς (ithús, “straight”) and a root Proto-Indo-European *seHdʰ- (“to reach a goal”), so that cōnsīderō meant “to concentrate on a goal” and dēsīderō “to move off a goal”.[2] Nyman developed this, taking the verbs from hunters' language and adducing Finnish parallels for a shift from “target” to “star”, but the connections outside Latin are unclear.[2] The older link with Proto-Indo-European *sweyd- (“to shine, sweat”), which Lewis & Short followed, is not specific enough for de Vaan.[2][3][1] The Oxford Latin Dictionary compares Lithuanian svidùs.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Accius uses it of the constellations, and Varro uses it.[4][2] Köbler dates Accius 170–c. 90 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a heavenly body, the planets, a constellation, and a comet, especially the Julian comet that Augustus took as a sign.[4] Lewis & Short note that Cicero, Caesar and Quintilian use it of a group of stars, in the plural, while stēlla is a single star.[3] A constellation marked the progress of the year, so it could mean the season.[4]

Medieval writers used it of the Star of Bethlehem.[6] Its derivatives cōnsīderō and dēsīderō gave English consider and desire.[7]

Timeline

  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of the constellations.[4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero distinguishes two kinds of heavenly bodies.[4][5]
  • c. 1200 – English desire is recorded, from dēsīderāre.[7]
  • late 14th century – English consider is recorded, from cōnsīderāre.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A heavenly body; a star; in the plural, the planets.[4][3]
  2. A constellation.[4][1]
  3. A comet or meteor.[4]
  4. A season.[4]
  5. (Medieval Latin) The Star of Bethlehem.[6]

Word family

  • sīderālis
  • sīdereus
  • cōnsīderō
  • dēsīderō
  • sīderor

Usage notes

Döderlein says that stēlla is any single star, astrum one of the great bright bodies, and sīdus a constellation.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper