sonus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɔ.nʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɔː.nus]^[1]

Forms

sonus m (genitive sonī or sonūs); variously declined, second declension, fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *swonos, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *swónh₂os, from the root *swenh₂- (“to sound”).^[1][2] The verb sonō “to sound” is from the same root.^[3][4]

Georges compares Sanskrit स्वन (svaná, “sound”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Ennius onwards,^[3][6] who writes “a harsh sound ran through the bronze” and “the sweet voice of Egeria answered him”.^[4][7]

Semantic evolution

It meant a sound or noise, as Sisenna's Gauls advancing with great uproar and Cicero's flutes that give no sound.^[4] It meant articulate sound, speech or utterance, as Ennius' Egeria, and the distinctive quality of a voice, pronunciation or accent, as Cicero's urban accent of Rome compared with the Attic.^[4]

Cicero also used it of the highest and lowest musical notes.^[5] Figuratively it meant tone or style.^[1] In Medieval Latin it was the ringing of bells.^[6] English sound came from it through Old French son in the late 13th century.^[2]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of sound and voice.^[4][6]
• 120–67 BC – Sisenna uses it of the noise of an army.^[4][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the Roman accent.^[4][6]
• late 13th century – English sound is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A sound, noise.^[4][1]
2. Speech, utterance; a voice.^[4][1]
3. Tone, accent, pronunciation.^[4][1]
4. (figurative) Tone, style.^[1]
5. (Medieval Latin) The ringing of bells.^[6]

Word family

• īnsonus
• sonipēs
• sonīvius
• aegisonus
• dulcisonus
• grandisonus
• raucisonus
• absonus
• bisonus
• dissonus
• personus
• multisonus

Related words

• circumsonus
• sonābilis
• sonāns
• sonāx
• sonitō
• sonitus
• sonō
• sonor
• sonōrē
• sonōritās
• English sound

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b 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 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 Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press