gladius Latin · revision 18157

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɡɫa.di.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡlaː.di.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gladius''' ''m'' (genitive gladiī or gladī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A neuter ''gladium'' is found in Lucilius and Varro.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[bor|cel-pro|*kladio-|t=sword]], or a borrowing of the same word from a third language: de Vaan points to the close match with the Celtic words for “sword”, the imperfect match of the first consonant, and the field of weaponry, where loanwords are common.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD calls it Celtic, and Wiktionary suggests a Gaulish source.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Köbler and Wiktionary trace the Celtic word further to [[ine-pro|*kelh₂-|t=to strike, break]].^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Compare [[cy|cleddyf|t=sword]], [[kw|clethe|t=sword]] and [[sga|claideb|t=sword]], which is itself a loan from Welsh.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''quid opus gladiō? — quī hunc occīdam'', “what do you need a sword for? — to kill this man”.^(OLD 2012) Ennius has ''succinctī gladiīs'', “girt with swords”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Gladius'' is a sword, and by extension the use of the sword in war, the gladiator's trade, death by the sword, and a man with a sword.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Pliny the Elder uses it of the swordfish.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Its derivatives include ''[[gladiātor]]'', a swordsman, from Cato on.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ In Church Latin it is “sword”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin the sword is a symbol of justice;^(Niermeyer 1976) ''gladius spīrituālis'' is spiritual jurisdiction, and ''gladius ōris'' an anathema, excommunication.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''quid opus gladiō?''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius: ''succinctī gladiīs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius has the neuter ''gladium''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * Middle Ages – ''gladius spīrituālis'', spiritual jurisdiction.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # Fighting with the sword; the gladiatorial profession; death by the sword, [[m|en|murder]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An armed man.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|swordfish]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The sword as a symbol of [[m|en|justice]];^(Niermeyer 1976) ''gladius spīrituālis'', spiritual [[m|en|jurisdiction]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dīgladior]]

+ * [[gladiārius]]

+ * [[gladiātor]]

+ * [[gladiolus]]

+ * [[gladiātōriē]]

+ * [[gladiātōrium]]

+ * [[gladiātūra]]

+ * [[glāvus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}