amor Latin · revision 17833

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₃mh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈa.mɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.mor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''amor''' ''m'' (genitive amōris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Plautus has the old nominative ''amōs'', like ''honōs'' and ''labōs''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|amō|-or]], an action noun from the verb “to love”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces the verb to [[itc-pro|*amā-|t=to take, hold]], from [[ine-pro|*h₃mh₃-|t=to take hold of]], the Latin sense having developed from “take someone's hand” to “regard as a friend”.^(de Vaan 2008) Following Schrijver, he notes that the stative sense of the verb and the noun point to a stative verb ⟨*amā-ē-⟩, which would have arisen after Proto-Italic.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Compare [[grc|ὄμνυμι|tr=ómnumi|t=to swear]] and [[sga|námae|t=enemy]].^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler calls the origin unclear and mentions a word for “mother” (⟨*amma⟩) or an Etruscan source.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius on.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Ennius writes of Medea ''amōre saevō saucia'', “wounded by cruel love”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Amor'' is first sexual passion, love, also illicit love; in the plural (''amōrēs'') it is the person loved, and a love affair.^(OLD 2012) It is also affection for relatives and friends, between peoples, and for one's country (''amor patriae'', ''amor reī pūblicae'').^(OLD 2012) Personified, ''Amor'' is the god of love, Cupid;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) the poets use ''amōrēs'' of love songs and love stories.^(OLD 2012) It extends to fondness for things and pursuits, and to strong desire (''sī tantus amor'').^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it also meant a token of friendship, an amicable settlement of a dispute, a ruler's favour, and discretion (''ad amōrem'' “at will”).^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ English [[m|en|amour]] “love”, recorded from about 1300, comes from it through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – First found in Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the plural ''amōrēs'' for the beloved: ''ad amōrēs meōs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius: ''amōre saevō saucia''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of ''amor reī pūblicae''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil: ''amor … patriae''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English [[m|en|amour]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Sexual [[m|en|passion]], [[m|en|love]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) illicit love.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(usually plural)'' The person loved, one's [[m|en|beloved]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A love [[m|en|affair]];^(OLD 2012) sexual intercourse.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Love for relatives or friends, [[m|en|affection]];^(OLD 2012) ''amor patriae'', love of one's country.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An object of affection.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(personified)'' Love, the god of love, [[m|en|Cupid]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' A love song, love story.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Fondness for, attachment to (possessions, pursuits).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Strong desire, yearning.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A token of friendship; an amicable settlement of a dispute; a ruler's favour.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[amōrābundus]]

+ * [[amorifer]]

+ * [[amorificus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amō]]

+ * [[amīcus]]

+ * [[amātor]]

+ * [[en|amour]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis and Short set ''amor'', like ''[[amō]]'', as love from inclination, against ''[[cāritās]]'', which like ''[[dīligō]]'' is love from esteem.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein draws the same line between ''amāre'' and ''dīligere''.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}