magnus Latin · revision 2897

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Twelve Tables|origins=ine-pro *meǵh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmaŋ.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmaɲ.ɲus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''magnus''' (feminine magna, neuter magnum, comparative maior, superlative maximus or maxumus, adverb magnopere); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*magno-|t=great]], [[inh|ine-pro|*m̥ǵ-no-|t=great]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*meǵh₂-|t=great]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The comparatives [[maior]] and [[magis]] and the superlative [[maximus]] come from the same root with the suffix *-is-.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[osc|mais|t=more]] and [[xum|mestru|t=greater]],^(de Vaan 2008) and further with [[hit|mekki-|t=much, many]], [[sa|महि|tr=máhi-|t=great]], [[grc|μέγας|tr=mégas|t=great]], [[got|𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐍃|tr=mikils|t=great]] and [[en|much]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It appears in the Laws of the Twelve Tables.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Livius Andronicus speaks of ''mare magnum'', “the great sea”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant great in size, as Ennius' great oaks, and great in number or amount, as Plautus' great harvest.^(OLD 2012) The ablative ''magno'' meant “at a high price”, ''magna voce'' “in a loud voice”, and it was used of strong winds.^(OLD 2012) Added to a name it meant “the Great”, as in Pompey's cognomen, and in kinship it meant “great-”, as ''magna amita'' “great-aunt”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Figuratively it meant great in degree, difficult, important, and of people eminent, powerful or distinguished.^(OLD 2012) ''Magno animo'' was “with a bold or noble spirit”, and it could also mean proud or boastful.^(OLD 2012) Medieval Latin used it in names such as ''Carolus Magnus'', Charlemagne.^(Wiktionary) English ''magnitude'' comes from its derivative ''magnitudo''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a great harvest.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of great oaks and powerful peoples.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''magno animo'', “with a great spirit”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''magnitude'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Great, big, large.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Much, many, great (in amount).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''magno'' At a high price.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of sound)'' Loud, ''magna voce'' in a loud voice.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of wind, sea)'' Strong, violent.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(after names)'' The Great.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(in kinship)'' Great-, ''magna amita'' great-aunt.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Great (in degree), intense.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Difficult; important.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Eminent, powerful; distinguished.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Bold, noble (in spirit); proud, boastful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[magnalia]]

+ * [[magnanimis]]

+ * [[magnanimus]]

+ * [[magnārius]]

+ * [[magnātus]]

+ * [[magnidicus]]

+ * [[magnifaciō]]

+ * [[magnificō]]

+ * [[magnificus]]

+ * [[magniloquāx]]

+ * [[magniloquentia]]

+ * [[magniloquus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mactus]]

+ * [[magis]]

+ * [[magister]]

+ * [[magnās]]

+ * [[maiestās]]

+ * [[maiusculus]]

+ * [[ingēns]]

+ * [[en|magnitude]]

+ * [[en|magnificent]]

+ * [[en|magnate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein groups ''magnus'', ''grandis'' and ''amplus'', a fitting greatness, against ''ingens'', ''immanis'' and ''vastus'', an overwhelming one, and notes that ''magnus'' is greatness with no further shade of meaning.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}