Etymologically
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spiramentum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [spiː.raːˈmɛn.tũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [spi.raˈmɛn.tum][1]

Forms

spīrāmentum n (genitive spīrāmentī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin spīrō (“to breathe”) + -mentum.[2][1] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨spīrō⟩ as Proto-Italic ⟨*spīr/s-⟩ and suggests it may imitate the sound of breathing, with no direct cognates.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Virgil, and the OLD's earliest citation is his caeca relaxat spīrāmenta “opens the hidden pores” of the earth.[4][2][5] Köbler dates Virgil 70–19 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a breathing passage, air hole, vent, pore, as in Virgil; a breathing space, pause, as in Tacitus; and a breath of air, draught, as in Vitruvius, and Lewis & Short call it poetic and post-Augustan.[2][6][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for a breathing passage or other internal channel, a pore, an air hole.[7]

Timeline

  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of pores.[2][4]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of a draught.[2][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a pause.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An air passage, vent, pore.[2][6]
  2. A breathing space, pause.[2]
  3. A draught of air.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ 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