altus Latin · revision 2747

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 280–200 BC, Livius Andronicus|origins=itc-pro *alto-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈaɫ.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈal.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''altus''' (feminine alta, neuter altum, comparative altior, superlative altissimus, adverb altē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*alto-|t=high]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) In form it is the perfect participle of [[alo|alt=alere]] “to nourish”, so that the OLD, Lewis and Short and Wiktionary take it as “grown tall” from [[ine-pro|*h₂el-|t=to grow, nourish]], as Festus already did; de Vaan finds the meanings hard to connect and reports Schrijver's view that the identity is unlikely, and he gives the Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-to- with a question mark.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Cognate with [[sga|alt|t=height, bank, coast]], [[cy|allt|t=hillside]] and [[br|aod|t=coast]], and perhaps with the Germanic word for “old”, [[goh|alt]], [[got|𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹𐍃|tr=alþeis]] and [[ang|eald]], if that developed from “high” through “grown tall”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Livius Andronicus uses it of men climbing a [[m|en|high]] mountain,^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) and the inscription of the Columna Rostrata has ''in altod marid'', “on the high sea”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Accius already uses it for “old”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis and Short call it a polar word, meaning both high and [[m|en|deep]] according to the viewer's position.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Upwards it described mountains, walls, trees, places on high ground, heavenly bodies and an exalted seat; downwards the high sea (''altum mare''), wells, foundations, wounds and the depths, including the heart as the seat of feeling (''alto pectore'').^(OLD 2012) It also meant thick (snow, dust), long (grass, hair), deep in ranks, remote in time or advanced in age, loud and deep of sounds, intense of heat and cold, dense of darkness, and profound of night, silence, peace and sleep.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Figuratively it meant high-born, exalted, proud, noble or elevated in thought and style, profound in wisdom, strong in feeling and grave in crime.^(OLD 2012) The neuter [[altum]] was the high sea, the depths or a height.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Medieval charters use ''de alto et basso'' for full judicial authority, and medieval Latin added “expensive”, “swollen” and “holy, venerable”.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)^(MLW) It survives as Italian, Spanish and Portuguese ''alto'', Romanian ''înalt'' and French ''haut'',^(Wiktionary) and Italian ''alto'' gave the voice part [[m|en|alto]], borrowed into English in 1784.^(Etymonline)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 280–200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it of a high mountain.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 260 BC – The Columna Rostrata speaks of fighting on the high sea.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a tall fir and of the deep Hellespont.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it in the sense “old”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of noble thoughts and profound minds.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of an ancient origin.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1784 – [[en|alto|alt=Alto]] is borrowed into English from Italian.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|high|alt=High]], tall, lofty; situated high up.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|deep|alt=Deep]], as in ''altum mare'', the high sea, or situated at a great depth.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Thick, dense; long, of grass or hair; deep, of ranks.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Remote in time, ancient; advanced in age.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ # Deep, loud, of sounds; intense, of heat or cold; dark, dense; profound, of night, silence or sleep.^(OLD 2012)

+ # High-born, exalted; proud; noble, elevated; profound in wisdom; deep, of feelings; grave, of crimes.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Expensive; swollen; holy, venerable.^(Köbler 2010)^(MLW)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''altum'' – the high sea; the depths; a height.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[altē]]

+ * [[altipendulus]]

+ * [[altipeta]]

+ * [[altisonus]]

+ * [[altispex]]

+ * [[altitonāns]]

+ * [[altitūdō]]

+ * [[altiusculus]]

+ * [[altivolus]]

+ * [[altum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alō]]

+ * [[en|alto]]

+ * [[en|altitude]]

+ * [[en|old]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Agroecius noted that ''altum'' means both what is above and what is below.^(TLL) Döderlein sets ''altus'', height or depth as a dimension, against [[editus|alt=ēditus]], the height of a hill, and [[procerus|alt=prōcērus]], height of growth.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}