vulnerabilis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [wʊɫ.nɛˈraː.bɪ.lɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [vul.neˈraː.bi.lis]^[1]

Forms

vulnerābilis (neuter vulnerābile); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from vulnerō “to wound”, from vulnus “wound”, with the suffix -bilis.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Caelius Aurelianus, of the 5th century AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant liable to be wounded, vulnerable.^[2] Etymonline gives Late Latin vulnerābilis also the active sense “wounding”.^[3]

British Medieval Latin used it for capable of being wounded, as Trevet of Achilles struck in his vulnerable spot.^[5] It survives in Italian vulnerabile and French and Spanish vulnérable, vulnerable, and gave English vulnerable about 1600.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it.^[4]
• c. 1600 – English vulnerable is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Vulnerable.^[2]
2. (Late Latin) Wounding.^[3]

Related words

• vulnerō
• vulnus
• English vulnerable

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ 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