libella Latin · revision 10030

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cato|origins=itc-pro *leiþra-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [liːˈbɛl.la]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈbɛl.la]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lībella''' ''f'' (genitive lībellae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a diminutive of [[lībra]] “balance, pound”, from ⟨*lībrella⟩ with dissimilation.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan reconstructs ⟨lībra⟩ as Proto-Italic ⟨*leiþra-⟩ “pound”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is Cato, of a small coin, and Köbler's earliest source is Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC and Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a small silver coin, a tenth of a denarius, an as, as in Varro and Pliny, and so a trifling sum; in inheritances ''ex lībellā'' meant “to the extent of a tenth”; and in Lucretius a level, a plummet and line on a frame used to find the horizontal or perpendicular.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ English ''level'' (mid-14th century) is from it through Old French ''livel'', and Italian ''livella'' too, and Italian ''libellula'' and French ''libellule'' “dragonfly” are formed from it.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a coin.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a level.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''level'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small silver [[m|en|coin]], a tenth of a denarius; a trifling sum.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A tenth part (of an inheritance).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|level]], plumb line.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[simbella]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lībra]]

+ * [[lībrō]]

+ * [[en|level]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}