levis Latin · revision 2909

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₁legʷʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫɛ.wɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlɛː.vis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''levis''' (neuter leve, comparative levior, superlative levissimus, adverb leviter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*leχu-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₁legʷʰ-u-|t=light]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan notes two forms of the root, with and without a nasal, and Latin continues the one without.^(de Vaan 2008) The old u-stem adjective was remade as an i-stem, a change found in all such Latin adjectives.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[sga|laigiu|t=lighter, poorer]], [[sa|रघु|tr=raghú-|t=swift]], [[grc|ἐλαχύς|tr=elakhús|t=small]], [[lt|leñgvas|t=light]], [[got|𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃|tr=leihts|t=light]] and [[en|light]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) who calls a man “lighter than a feather”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant [[m|en|light]] in weight, nimble and quick, and unburdened, and Caesar's ''levis armatura'' are light-armed troops.^(OLD 2012) It described a gentle touch, a mild breeze, thin air, and food or wine that is easily digested.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Figuratively a task, a loss or a pain was light, that is, easy or bearable, while an argument was weak and a person without influence.^(OLD 2012) It meant trivial and, of literature, light and meant to amuse.^(OLD 2012) Of people it meant fickle or unreliable, as Cicero's ''inconstans ac levis''.^(OLD 2012) Medieval music theory used it for a high pitch.^(LmL) It survives as Italian ''lieve'' and Spanish and Portuguese ''leve''.^(Wiktionary) English ''levity'' comes from [[levitas|alt=levitās]], and ''lever'' from [[levo|alt=levāre]] “to raise”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus calls a man lighter than a feather.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius writes of lighter and heavier bodies falling.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses ''levis armatura'' for light-armed troops.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for light wines and for fickle people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''lever'' comes through Old French ''levier''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – English ''levity'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Light]] (in weight).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Nimble, quick.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Unburdened, ''(military)'' light-armed.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Gentle, slight, mild; thin.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of food)'' Easily digested.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Easy; bearable.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Weak, of little force; without influence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Trivial]], unimportant.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Meant to amuse, light.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Fickle, unreliable.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, music)'' High (in pitch).^(LmL)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leuiculus]]

+ * [[levidēnsis]]

+ * [[levifīdus]]

+ * [[levipēs]]

+ * [[leuisomnus]]

+ * [[levitās]]

+ * [[leviter]]

+ * [[levō]]

+ * [[perleuis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|levity]]

+ * [[en|lever]]

+ * [[en|alleviate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different word, ''lēvis'' with a long ''e'', means “smooth”; it is found from Cato on and is related to [[grc|λεῖος|tr=leîos|t=smooth]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Döderlein contrasts this ''lēvis'', a pleasant smoothness, with ''glaber'', bare or hairless.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}