larva English · revision 1523

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing, semantic loan|attested=1651}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɑː.və/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlɑɹ.və/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-new|larva]], a special use by Linnaeus of [[la|lārva]], earlier [[m|la|lārua|t=ghost, evil spirit; mask]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline) It is probably related to [[m|la|Lār|t=household god]] (see [[Lares]]),^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Klein 1966) a derivation de Vaan finds attractive in meaning.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A disembodied spirit, ghost or spectre (1651 in the OED and Barnhart; 1630s in Etymonline, and earlier as ''larve'').^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin word also meant a terrifying mask, and in Medieval Latin a mask or visor.^(AHD)^(Abracadabra 2004) In 1768 Linnaeus applied it to the immature form of insects, because it hides or “masks” the adult form.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986) This zoological sense crowded out the original one,^(Etymonline) which survives in the history of Roman religion.^(OED 1989) By 1691 the word was also applied to the early forms of other animals that undergo [[metamorphosis]], such as frogs.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1651 – a ghost or spectre.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1691 – an immature form of other animals.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1768 – an insect grub (Linnaeus).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The newly hatched, wingless, often wormlike form of many [[insect|alt=insects]] before [[metamorphosis]], such as a [[caterpillar]] or [[grub]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The early, free-living form of any animal, such as a frog, that differs greatly from the adult and changes by metamorphosis.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Roman antiquity)'' A malevolent spirit of the dead; a [[lemur]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[larval]]

+ * [[larvicide]]

+ * [[larviparous]]

+ * [[larvivorous]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Lares]]

+ * [[pupa]]

+ * [[nymph]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The plural is ''larvae'', and ''larvas'' is also used but considered incorrect by some.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}