frumentum Latin · revision 17959

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=itc-pro *frūg-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [fruːˈmɛn.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fruˈmɛn.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''frūmentum''' ''n'' (genitive frūmentī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the stem of [[frūx]] “fruit, crops” and [[fruor]] “to enjoy” with the suffix [[m|la|-mentum]], from ⟨*frūg-men-⟩ (Lewis and Short: ⟨*frūgimentum⟩).^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives the stem from [[itc-pro|*frūg-]], from [[ine-pro|*bʰruHg-|t=to use]];^(de Vaan 2008) Umbrian has [[m|xum|fri|t=fruits]], and Germanic the verb [[gem-pro|*brūkaną|t=to use]], in [[got|𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=brukjan]] and [[ang|brūcan]].^(de Vaan 2008) Since the root is found only in Italic and Germanic, he notes, a PIE origin may be doubted.^(de Vaan 2008) Varro already derived ⟨frūmentum⟩ from ⟨fruor⟩.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''frūmentī quom alibī messis maxumast'', “when elsewhere the grain harvest is at its greatest”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Frūmentum'' is the grain of cereal plants, especially in the singular for harvested grain, and in the plural the standing crops.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also means cereals as a class of produce and, specifically, wheat.^(OLD 2012) Its derivative ''[[frūmentārius]]'' means “of grain” and, as a noun, “a grain dealer”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “grain, corn, rye, wheat, barley, meal”, and in Medieval Latin it is wheat in particular (French ''froment'').^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''frūmentī … messis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato: ''frūmentō nē noceat curculiō'', “so that the weevil does not harm the grain”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro distinguishes land suited to vines from land suited to grain.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of wheat as against barley.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|grain]], corn (harvested).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(plural)'' Standing corn, [[m|en|crops]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Cereals (as a kind of produce).^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|wheat]].^(OLD 2012)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[frumentaceus]]

+ * [[frūmentārius]]

+ * [[frūmentor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[frūx]]

+ * [[fruor]]

+ * [[frūctus]]

+ * [[frūgī]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}