vallis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈwal.lɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈval.lis]^[1]

Forms

vallis f (genitive vallis); third declension^[1] The older nominative vallēs occurs in Caesar and Virgil, the form under which the OLD enters it.^[2]

Etymology

The origin is disputed.^[1] It has been connected with Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌿𐍃 (walus, “staff”) and Lithuanian apvalùs (“round”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, roll”), and the OLD compares volvō “to roll”, but de Vaan finds this phonetically implausible.^[1][2] Prósper defends a derivation from such a root, which would relate it to vāllum “rampart”.^[1] Köbler gives Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to turn, wind”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD notes the older nominative vallēs in Caesar's Gallic War.^[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Caesar c. 50 BC and Cicero 81–43 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a valley, vale, as in Caesar and Cicero's Republic.^[2][4] Figuratively it meant a hollow, cavity, as in Catullus and Ausonius.^[4]

It survives in Catalan vall and Old French val, and through Old French it gave English vale in the early 14th century and, from valee, English valley about 1300.^[1][5]

Timeline

• c. 50 BC – Caesar has the form vallēs.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[4][3]
• 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of a hollow.^[4][3]
• c. 1300 – English valley is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A valley, vale.^[2]
2. A hollow, cavity.^[4]

Word family

• convallis
• vallestria
• vallicula

Related words

• vāllum
• English valley
• English vale

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com