moles Latin · revision 18005

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=170–c. 90 BC, Accius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmoː.ɫeːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɔː.les]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mōlēs''' ''f'' (genitive mōlis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan reconstructs [[inh|itc-pro|*mōlo-|t=labour, effort]] beside an s-stem ⟨*mel-e/os-⟩ “trouble”, seen in [[m|la|molestus|t=troublesome]], and thinks the noun replaced an old root noun; he rejects the LIV's ⟨*m(e)h₃-l-⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD and the TLL compare [[grc|μῶλος|tr=mōlos|t=toil of battle]] and [[grc|μόλις|tr=mólis|t=hardly]];^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Köbler traces it to [[ine-pro|*mō-|t=to strive, toil]].^(Köbler 2010) Wiktionary calls the origin uncertain.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Accius,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has ''mōlem ex profundō saxeam ad caelum ērigit'', “he raises a rocky mass from the deep to the sky”, and of a ship ''tanta mōlēs lābitur fremibunda ex altō'', “so huge a thing glides roaring from the deep”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Mōlēs'' is “a large mass, lump” and a thing of great size, “a monster”, and so a massive structure, a pile, a dam or mole (Cicero of a monument ''exstrūcta mōlēs opere magnificō'', “a pile built with splendid work”).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) It is vast size or bulk (Virgil: Polyphemus ''vastā sē mōle moventem'', “moving his huge bulk”), and with a genitive “a huge amount of” (Accius: ''quantam … mōlem … bellī'', “what a mass of war”).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Figuratively it is a vast undertaking or heavy responsibility, a danger or burden, “effort, trouble” (Virgil: ''tantae mōlis erat Rōmānam condere gentem'', “so great a labour it was to found the Roman race”), and “might, force”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses it “mass, bulk; trouble”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius: ''mōlem ex profundō saxeam''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''exstrūcta mōlēs opere magnificō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil: ''tantae mōlis erat Rōmānam condere gentem''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|mass]], lump, heap.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A huge thing; a massive structure, pile; a [[m|en|dam]], [[m|en|pier]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Vast size, [[m|en|bulk]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A huge amount (of).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A vast undertaking, heavy responsibility; a danger, burden.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Effort, [[m|en|trouble]], difficulty.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Force, might.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mōlēcula]]

+ * [[molestus]]

+ * [[mōlior]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The OLD lists the plural ''Mōlēs'' as a personification of the turmoil of war, divinities associated with Mars.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}