stomachus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈstɔ.ma.kʰʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstɔː.ma.kus]^[1]

Forms

stomachus m (genitive stomachī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek στόμαχος (stómakhos, “gullet”), from στόμα (stóma, “mouth”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of annoyance, stomachum facere.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it meant the gullet, oesophagus, which takes in food from the root of the tongue, and in Lucretius the stomach, and in Horace the seat of appetite.^[2][4][5] In Cicero it also meant one's taste, liking, disposition, and patience.^[2] From Plautus it meant annoyance, ill temper, stomachum movēre to vex.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant the stomach.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for the gullet and the upper opening of the stomach.^[7] Old French estomac gave English stomach in the early 14th century, and Latin stomachārī “to be resentful” lies behind the verb's old sense “to resent”.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of annoyance.^[2][3]
• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the stomach.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the gullet and of taste.^[2][3]
• early 14th century – English stomach is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. The gullet, oesophagus.^[2]
2. The stomach; the appetite.^[2]
3. Taste, liking; patience.^[2]
4. Annoyance, ill temper.^[2]

Word family

• stomachicus
• stomachor
• stomachōsus

Related words

• English stomach

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com