mons Latin · revision 2945

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mōns''' ''m'' (genitive montis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*monti-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*mon-ti-|t=protrusion, height]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*men-|t=to project, tower]], also seen in [[emineo|alt=ēmineō]] and [[mentum]] “chin”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan notes that the o-grade is unexpected.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[cy|mynydd|t=mountain]], [[ae|maiti-|t=mountain, height]] and [[non|mœnir|t=ridge of a roof]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) and Ennius writes of “steep mountains standing in the way”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a [[m|en|mountain]] or hill, and in the plural the hill country, as against the plain.^(OLD 2012) It also meant a towering heap, as Cicero's “mountain” of building at Tusculum, and in the phrase ''montes et maria polliceri'', “to promise mountains and seas”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Poets used it for a huge rock.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it for a mining area, and ''da monte'' meant “on the northern side”, towards the Alps.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in all the Romance languages, as Romanian ''munte'', Italian, Spanish and Portuguese ''monte'' and French ''mont''.^(DÉRom)^(Wiktionary) English ''mountain'' came from Old French about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of steep mountains.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it for the foot of a mountain and for the hill country.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses ''montes et maria polliceri''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''mountain'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|mountain]], hill.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(plural)'' The hill country.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A towering heap, mass; a great quantity.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(poetic)'' A huge rock.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A mining area.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[montānus]]

+ * [[montensis]]

+ * [[monticellus]]

+ * [[monticola]]

+ * [[monticulus]]

+ * [[montifer]]

+ * [[montivagus]]

+ * [[montuōsus]]

+ * [[montāna]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mentum]]

+ * [[minae]]

+ * [[prōmunturium]]

+ * [[en|mount]]

+ * [[en|mountain]]

+ * [[en|promontory]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''mons'', a mountain seen in its height, from ''iugum'', a ridge seen in its length and breadth.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}