torris

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈtɔr.rɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtɔr.ris]^[1]

Forms

torris m (genitive torris); third declension^[1] Also second-declension torrus in Accius.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from the root of torreō “to scorch”.^[2][1][4] De Vaan traces ⟨torreō⟩ to Proto-Italic *tors-eje- (“to scorch”), Proto-Indo-European *tors-éye- (“to make dry”), cognate with Sanskrit तृष्यति (tŕ̥ṣyati, “is thirsty”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Ennius.^[6] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant a piece of burning wood, a firebrand, brand, with or without flame, as in Virgil and Ovid.^[2][4]

British Medieval Latin used it for a firebrand, as in Alcuin's torris dē incendiō raptus “a brand plucked from the fire”.^[7]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^[6]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it.^[4][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A firebrand, brand.^[2][4]

Word family

• torrus

Related words

• torreō
• torridus
• titiō

References

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