merx Latin · revision 2891

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmɛrks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛrks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''merx''' ''f'' (genitive mercis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Plautus uses the nominative ''mers''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*merk-|t=trade, exchange]], a stem also found in Faliscan and Oscan; its further origin is unknown.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The god [[Mercurius]] was probably the god of exchange.^(de Vaan 2008) Walde–Hofmann thought his name Etruscan, and de Vaan notes the stem itself could be too.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Compare [[xfa|mercui|t=to Mercury]] and [[osc|amiricum|t=commerce]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who says ''proba merx facile emptorem reperit'', “good wares easily find a buyer”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a commodity and, in the plural, goods or [[m|en|merchandise]], and Plautus used it as an insult, “you're bad goods”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It also meant trade or sale, as in Pliny, and once a price.^(OLD 2012) From it came [[mercor|alt=mercārī]] “to trade”, [[mercatus|alt=mercātus]] “market” and [[mercator|alt=mercātor]] “merchant”.^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ Medieval texts also spell it ''marca'' and ''mercha''.^(Wiktionary)^(NGML) It survives as Italian ''merce''.^(Wiktionary) English ''market'' comes from ''mercatus'' and ''merchant'' from the related verb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for goods and as an insult.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of foreign goods.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * early 12th century – English ''market'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 13th century – English ''merchant'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A commodity, ''(plural)'' goods, [[m|en|merchandise]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Trade, sale.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A price.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[commercium]]

+ * [[mercalis]]

+ * [[mercēs]]

+ * [[mercimōnium]]

+ * [[prōmercium]]

+ * [[mercor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|market]]

+ * [[en|merchant]]

+ * [[en|commerce]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''merx'', wares already made for sale, from ''mercimonium'', materials that can become wares.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}