nocturnus Latin · revision 18019

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [nɔkˈtʊr.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [nokˈtur.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nocturnus''' (feminine nocturna, neuter nocturnum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|nox|-urnus|t1=night]], on the model of [[m|la|diurnus|t=daily]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan cites Pinault's view that it, like [[m|la|noctū|t=by night]], rests on an old locative ⟨*nokʷt-eu⟩.^(de Vaan 2008) [[m|la|nox]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*nok(w)-t-]] and [[ine-pro|*nókʷts|t=night]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius,^(de Vaan 2008) who calls robbers ''nocturnōs … praemiātōrēs'', “night-time bounty hunters”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler also records it in Plautus.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Nocturnus'' is “of the night” (Cicero: ''hōrīs nocturnīs''), “used at night” (Horace: a night-garment), and of events “happening at night” (Cicero: nocturnal sacrifices).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) The ''triumvirī nocturnī'' were magistrates who watched over the safety of Rome by night.^(OLD 2012) Of persons and animals it is “active by night”, so ''fūr nocturnus'', “a burglar”, and of the owl ''nocturna strīx'' (Horace); as a noun ''Nocturnus'' is the god of night in Plautus.^(OLD 2012) Poets use it adverbially, “by night” (Virgil: he steered the ship on the waters at night).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin ''nocturnī'' and ''nocturna'' are the night office, a service held at night.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|nocturne]] comes from it through French in 1851.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius: ''nocturnōs … praemiātōrēs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of the god of night.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''hōrīs nocturnīs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1851 – English [[m|en|nocturne]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the [[m|en|night]], [[m|en|nocturnal]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Used at night; happening at night.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Active by night, ''(fūr nocturnus)'' a [[m|en|burglar]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # By night (with adverbial force).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''Nocturnus'', the god of night.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, plural)'' The night office.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nocturnālis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nox]]

+ * [[noctū]]

+ * [[diurnus]]

+ * [[en|nocturne]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}