cornucopia English · revision 2360

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌkɔː.njəˈkəʊ.pi.ə/ ''(UK)''; /ˌkɔɹ.nəˈkoʊ.pi.ə/, /ˌkɔɹ.njəˈkoʊ.pi.ə/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|cornūcōpia]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from Latin ''cornū cōpiae'' “horn of plenty”,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''cornū'' “horn” and ''cōpiae'', the genitive of ''cōpia'' “plenty”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) It is related to ''horn'' and ''copious''.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The horn of plenty, a goat's horn shown overflowing with flowers, fruit and grain as an emblem of abundance.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster and Barnhart date it to 1508, the OED to 1592 and Etymonline to the 1590s.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original cornucopia was the horn of the goat Amalthea, who suckled the infant Zeus;^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) in folklore it filled with whatever its owner wanted.^(AHD)^(Wiktionary) From the emblem the word passed to any overflowing store or abundance (1611),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and to a horn-shaped container or ornament (1863).^(OED 1989)^(AHD) Shakespeare's age also used it humorously for the horn of cuckoldry (1600).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1508 – the horn of plenty.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1600 – ''(humorous)'' the cuckold's horn.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – an overflowing store.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1863 – a horn-shaped vessel or ornament.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A goat's horn overflowing with fruit, flowers and grain, used as a symbol of abundance.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Greek mythology)'' The horn of the goat that suckled Zeus, which was always full of food and drink.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # An abundant, overflowing supply.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A horn-shaped or conical ornament or container.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cornucopian]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[copious]]

+ * [[horn]]

+ * [[copy]]

+ * [[unicorn]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}