hercle Latin · revision 18084

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=grc Ἡρακλῆς}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈhɛr.kɫeː], [ˈhɛr.kɫɛ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛr.kle]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''herclē̆''' ^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''ercle'' and ''hercule'', and with ''me-'' in ''mehercle'', ''mehercule''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the name of [[m|la|Herculēs]] used as an oath.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) The OLD explains it as apparently a vocative of a Greek form ⟨*Hēraklos⟩ beside [[der|grc|Ἡρακλῆς|tr=Hēraklês]].^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short and Wiktionary take the Latin name through Etruscan, which wrote it [[ett|𐌇𐌄𐌓𐌂𐌋𐌄|tr=hercle]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius already has it in comedy: ''nōn hercle apluda est hodie quam tū nēquior'', “by Hercules, chaff today is not worth less than you”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler first records it in Plautus.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Hercle'' is an appeal to Hercules used to add emphasis or show strong feeling, “by Hercules!, indeed, truly”, often combined with other intensifying words (Plautus: ''profectō hercle'').^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) It was used normally by men, Plautus gives it once to a courtesan.^(OLD 2012) It is common in Plautus and Terence (''periī hercle'', “I'm done for, by Hercules”) and still used by Cicero and Phaedrus.^(OLD 2012) Köbler records it in the medieval writer Hrotsvit.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius: ''nōn hercle apluda est…''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''nē formīdā: salvom hercle erit''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''periī hercle''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in a speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # By [[m|en|Hercules]]!; truly, indeed (an oath adding emphasis).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Herculēs]]

+ * [[mehercle]]

+ * [[ēdepol]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}