sexus Latin · revision 2931

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛk.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛk.sus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sexus''' ''m'' (genitive sexūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) The by-form [[secus]], used only as nominative and accusative with adjectives meaning “male” or “female”, looks older, but the earliest texts have only ''sexus''.^(de Vaan 2008) It is often taken from [[seco|alt=secāre]] “to cut”, as “a division”, though how it was formed is unclear.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who uses it as a neuter in ''virile sexus numquam ullum habui'', “I never had any male child”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant [[m|en|sex]] or gender, the state of being male or female, as when Cicero says that human beings are classed by sex, whether male or female.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) By metonymy it was all the members of one sex, as ''virilis sexus'' “male offspring”.^(OLD 2012) Pliny used it of plants and minerals and of the genitals.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Medieval writers applied it to the supposed sex of the planets.^(DMLBS) French ''sexe'', Spanish and Portuguese ''sexo'' and Romanian ''sex'' were borrowed from it,^(Wiktionary) and English ''sex'' in the late 14th century, first for males or females as a group.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for sex as a way of classing people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of plants and for the genitals.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''sex'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Sex]], gender.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The members of one sex.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The sex (of plants, minerals).^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # The genitals.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sexuālis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[secus]]

+ * [[secō]]

+ * [[en|sex]]

+ * [[en|sexual]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}