triangularis

Forms

triangulāris (neuter triangulāre); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin triangulus + -āris, from the adjective meaning “three-cornered”,^[2] or from the noun triangulum (“triangle”) according to Georges and Köbler.^[3][4] Its base angulus (“corner”) goes back to Proto-Italic *ang(e)lo- and Proto-Indo-European *h₂eng-(e)lo- (“corner”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Chalcidius (c. 300 AD), who speaks of a triangular shape in his translation of Plato's Timaeus.^[4][3]

Semantic evolution

Its only sense is “triangular”: Martianus Capella uses it of a winding,^[6] and Boethius of figures and of triangular numbers in his arithmetic.^[3] Conte also cites the surveyor Hyginus.^[7] Medieval British writers used it of shields and of geometrical figures,^[8] and Italian triangolare continues it.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 300 AD – Chalcidius uses it of a triangular form.^[3][4]
• 5th century AD – Martianus Capella speaks of a triangular winding.^[6][4]
• medieval – British writers use it of shields and geometric figures.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Triangular, three-cornered.^[2][6][3]
2. (mathematics) Of triangular numbers.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
8. ^ a b 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