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subnixus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word subnixus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (nītor)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sʊbˈniːk.sʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [subˈnik.sus][1]

Forms

subnīxus (feminine subnīxa, neuter subnīxum); first/second-declension adjective[1] It is also spelled subnīsus.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin sub- + nīxus (“leaning”), the participle of nītor1 (“to lean, strive”).[2][4][5] De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *kniχw-et- for that verb and, with Walde–Hofmann and Pokorny, prefers to connect it with cōnīveō (“to be closed”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus,[5] who has subnixis alis me inferam, “I'll come in with arms akimbo”.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means propped up by or resting on a physical support:[2] Cicero has two circles resting on the poles of the sky.[3] More often it is figurative, relying on resources or allies: Virgil has Petelia relying on its wall.[2] An OLD fragment of Claudius Quadrigarius, quoted by Gellius, has the Latins elated in spirit.[2][4] The jurists use it of a document backed up by certain words and of a person resting on a privilege.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of arms akimbo.[2][5][4]
  • 1st century BC – Claudius Quadrigarius, of the Latins elated in spirit.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, of circles resting on the poles.[3][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil, of a town relying on its wall.[2][4]
  • before 212 AD – Papinian, of a privilege.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Propped up, resting on, supported by.[2][3][1]
  2. Relying on, defended by;[2][1] backed up by; resting on a privilege.[2]
  3. Elated or encouraged by.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
Cite this entry

“Subnixus.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/subnixus. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·