ludus Latin · revision 18167

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *loid-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫuː.dʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈluː.dus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lūdus''' ''m'' (genitive lūdī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Archaic ''loed-'' and ''loid-'' are found in inscriptions and in Cicero's laws.^(OLD 2012)

+ An inscription has the ablative plural ''lūdibus''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan takes it as probably formed from the verb [[m|la|lūdō|t=to play]], since no equivalent noun is found in the related languages;^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) the OLD also compares the verb.^(OLD 2012) [[m|la|lūdō]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*loid-e/o-|t=to play]] and [[ine-pro|*loid-|t=to let go repeatedly, play]].^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler compares the root [[ine-pro|*leid-|t=to play, jest]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ Cognate (through the verb) with [[lt|léisti|t=to let]] and [[grc|λίζει|tr=lízei|t=plays]], a word in Hesychius.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Ennius.^(Köbler 2010) Plautus has ''mercātor vēnit hūc ad lūdōs Lēmnius'', “a merchant from Lemnos came here for the games”, and ''inest lepōs lūdusque in hāc cōmoediā'', “there is charm and fun in this comedy”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Lūdus'' is sport and play, a game or pastime, and a show put on to amuse.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) In the plural ''lūdī'' are the public games and shows held in the circus (''lūdī circēnsēs'') or the theatre (''lūdī scaenicī''), which the aediles gave (Cicero: ''trīnōs lūdōs aedīlis fēceram'', “as aedile I had given three sets of games”); hence ''lūdōs facere aliquem'', “to make a fool of someone”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is also fun, merriment, frivolity.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ It is a place of training, above all an elementary school (''lūdus litterārius''); Plautus mentions a school for lyre-players, and Cicero calls the house of Isocrates a school of oratory for all Greece.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) A ''lūdus gladiātōrius'' is a school for gladiators.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it “game, sport, pastime, fun, play”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''ad lūdōs'';^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) ''lepōs lūdusque''; a school for lyre-players.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''trīnōs lūdōs'';^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) ''lūdus gladiātōrius''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar mentions gladiators in a school at Capua.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|play]], [[m|en|sport]], a game, pastime.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A show, entertainment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(plural)'' Public games, shows in the circus or theatre.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''lūdōs facere aliquem'': to make a fool of someone.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Fun, merriment, frivolity.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|school]], especially an elementary school; a gladiatorial school.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lūdibrium]]

+ * [[ludimagister]]

+ * [[lūdius]]

+ * [[oblūdiō]]

+ * [[lūdicer]]

+ * [[lūdiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lūdō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}