classis Latin · revision 2879

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *kelh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɫas.sɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈklas.sis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''classis''' ''f'' (genitive classis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[inh|itc-pro|*klāssi-|t=a call, summons]], [[inh|ine-pro|*kl̥h₁-d(ʰ)-ti-|t=a call]], from the root of [[calo|alt=calāre]] “to call”, which the Romans themselves connected it with.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Ernout and Meillet took “roll call, summons” to be the oldest sense.^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan finds a link with [[grc|κέλαδος|tr=kélados|t=noise]] unattractive in meaning,^(de Vaan 2008) and the TLL calls the origin unknown.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Livius Andronicus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) in the sense “fleet”.^(OLD 2012) An old royal law speaks of spoils taken under a commander's auspices ''classe procincta'', “with the levy under arms”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a levy of citizens called up for war, and one of the five property classes into which Servius Tullius was said to have divided the Romans, so that ''prima classis'' voted first and ''quintae classis'' meant “of the lowest rank”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Its commonest sense was a [[m|en|fleet]], as in Plautus' “without a fleet or an army”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It also meant a class or grade, as Seneca divides learners into three classes, and a band or squad.^(OLD 2012) In Medieval Latin it was a group of singers and a class of pupils,^(DMLBS)^(MLW) and a full peal of church bells.^(Niermeyer 1976) New Latin used it for a [[m|en|class]] in biology.^(Wiktionary) From it came [[classicus]], “of the first class” or “of the fleet”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) English took ''class'' from French about 1600 for a group of students, and ''classic'' in the 1610s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for a fleet.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses its derivative ''classicus''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''prima classis'' and ''quintae classis''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca divides learners into three classes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1541 – A British text uses it for a school class.^(DMLBS)

+ * c. 1600 – English ''class'' is first recorded, for a group of students.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # One of the five property classes of Roman citizens.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A levy of citizens for war.^(OLD 2012)

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

+ # A class, grade, rank.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A band, group, squad.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A class of pupils.^(DMLBS)^(Ramminger)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A full set of church [[m|en|bell|alt=bells]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(New Latin, biology)'' A class.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[classiāriī]]

+ * [[classiārius]]

+ * [[classicula]]

+ * [[classicus]]

+ * [[classicum]]

+ * [[subclassis]]

+ * [[superclassis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[calō]]

+ * [[en|class]]

+ * [[en|classic]]

+ * [[en|classify]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}