spiraculum Latin · revision 10079

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Lucretius|origins=la spīrō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [spiːˈraː.kʊ.ɫũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [spiˈraː.ku.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spīrāculum''' ''n'' (genitive spīrāculī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|spīrō|-culum|t1=to breathe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan reconstructs ⟨spīrō⟩ as Proto-Italic ⟨*spīr/s-⟩ and suggests it may imitate the sound of breathing, with no direct cognates.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lewis & Short and Gaffiot cite Lucretius, and the OLD's earliest citation is Varro.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC and Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a breathing hole, air hole, vent, as in Lucretius and Virgil, and an opening, outlet, as of a spring in Valerius Flaccus, and Lewis & Short call it poetic and post-Augustan.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it means breath.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it for an air hole, as of the vents of hell in Etna.^(DMLBS) English ''spiracle'' (mid-15th century) is from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''spiracle'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An air hole, [[m|en|vent]], [[m|en|spiracle]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # An opening, outlet.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' [[m|en|breath|alt=Breath]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spīrō]]

+ * [[spīrāmentum]]

+ * [[spīritus]]

+ * [[en|spiracle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}