solamen

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [soːˈɫaː.mɛn]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [soˈlaː.men]^[1]

Forms

sōlāmen n (genitive sōlāminis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sōlor (“to console”) + -men.^[2][1] De Vaan explains ⟨sōlor⟩ as a denominative of a root noun ⟨*sōl-⟩, Proto-Indo-European *sōlh₂- (“mercy, comfort”), cognate with Ancient Greek ἱλάσκομαι (hiláskomai, “to appease”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Virgil, sōlāmen malī “a comfort in misfortune”.^[2][4] Köbler dates Virgil 70–19 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a source of comfort, relief, solace, consolation, as in Virgil, and Lewis & Short call it poetic for the classical sōlācium; an inscription uses it, probably, of a supply of grain sent to relieve a shortage.^[2][4][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means comfort, relief, consolation.^[7] Medieval Latin used it for medical treatment, help, aid.^[8]

Timeline

• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it.^[2][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A comfort, solace, consolation.^[2][4]
2. A relief supply (of grain).^[2][6]
3. (Medieval Latin) Help, aid; medical treatment.^[8]

Related words

• sōlor
• sōlācium
• cōnsōlor

Usage notes

Niermeyer records an unrelated Medieval Latin sōlāmen, from solum, for ground, a site.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill