mensa Latin · revision 18090

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *meh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmẽː.sa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛn.sa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mēnsa''' ''f'' (genitive mēnsae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably the feminine of [[m|la|mēnsus|t=measured]], the past participle of [[m|la|mētior|t=to measure]], used as a noun.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The participle was formed after ⟨pēnsus⟩ “weighed”, and the verb goes back to a noun [[itc-pro|*mēti-]], from [[ine-pro|*meh₁-ti-|t=measurement]].^(de Vaan 2008) Umbrian [[m|xum|mefa]], a sacrificial object, perhaps a flat cake, may be the same word, and some think the first meaning was “a flat loaf on which offerings are placed”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''sacra in mēnsā Penātium ōrdine pōnuntur'', “the sacred things are set out in order on the table of the Penates”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Mēnsa'' is a table of any kind (Cato lists tables in the equipment of an olive farm), and specially a table for sacred vessels and offerings to the gods or the dead.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Most often it is the dining table, brought in already laid (Plautus: ''puerī, mēnsam appōnite'', “boys, set the table”), and so a course or dish, with ''mēnsa secunda'' “dessert”, the table as a sign of hospitality (Ennius), the company at table, and a meal or feast.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The ''mēnsa'' or ''mēnsa nummulāria'' is a banker's or money-changer's counter (Plautus: ''omnēs mēnsās trānsiit'', “he went round all the banks”), and Vitruvius uses it of a platform in a ballista.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “upper surface of an altar, altar table; banquet; bank; table”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin ''mēnsa canonicōrum'' is the common table of the canons of a church.^(Niermeyer 1976) English uses [[m|en|mensa]] for the top slab of an altar from 1848.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius: ''sacra in mēnsā Penātium''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''mēnsam appōnite'';^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) ''omnēs mēnsās trānsiit''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a hospitable table.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato lists tables among farm equipment.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1848 – English [[m|en|mensa]], an altar top.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # An [[m|en|altar]], a table for offerings.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A dining table; a course, dish;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''mēnsa secunda'': [[m|en|dessert]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Hospitality; the company at table.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A meal, [[m|en|feast]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A banker's or money-changer's counter, a bank.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A platform (in a ballista).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' ''mēnsa canonicōrum'': the common table of a church's canons.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mēnsālis]]

+ * [[mēnsārius]]

+ * [[mēnsula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mētior]]

+ * [[en|mesa]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}