planus Latin · revision 2970

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *pleh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈplaː.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''plānus''' (feminine plāna, neuter plānum, comparative planior, superlative planissimus, adverb plānē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*plāno-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*pl̥h₂-nó-|t=flattened]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*pleh₂-|t=flat]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[hit|palhi-|t=wide, broad]], [[prg|plonis|t=threshing floor]], [[lt|plónas|t=thin]] and [[lv|plãns|t=flat, even, thin]].^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD also compares [[en|floor]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who speaks of an easy and level road, ''facilis et plana via''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It described level ground and calm water, a house on ground level, and anything flat, so that ''plana manu'' was “with the flat of the hand” and ''piscis planus'' a flatfish.^(OLD 2012) Cicero used it in geometry, naming the circle the finest of plane figures.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Of speech it meant plain and straightforward, and more often clear or obvious: ''planum facere'' was to make something clear or prove it.^(OLD 2012) Medieval Latin used it for land that was not wooded, in the phrase ''in bosco et plano'', “in woods and fields”,^(Niermeyer 1976) and in music for a chant in a low register.^(LmL) It survives as Italian ''piano'', Old French ''plain'', Spanish ''llano'' and Portuguese ''chão''.^(Wiktionary) English ''plain'' came from Old French about 1300, and ''plane'' was taken from Latin ''planum'' about 1600.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a level road.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a flat surface.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of plane figures in geometry.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''plain'' is borrowed from Old French.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – English ''plane'' “flat surface” is taken from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Level, [[m|en|flat]], even, ''(of water)'' calm.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # On ground level.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Having a flat surface, ''plana manu'' with the flat of the hand.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(geometry)'' [[m|en|plane]], two-dimensional.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of speech)'' Plain, simple.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Clear, obvious, ''planum facere'' to make clear, prove.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Not wooded, open.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[planaris]]

+ * [[plānārius]]

+ * [[implanus]]

+ * [[perplānus]]

+ * [[plāna]]

+ * [[plāniloquus]]

+ * [[plānipēs]]

+ * [[plānitās]]

+ * [[plānitia]]

+ * [[plānitiēs]]

+ * [[planitudo]]

+ * [[plānum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[palma]]

+ * [[planta]]

+ * [[en|plain]]

+ * [[en|plane]]

+ * [[en|explain]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different word, ''planus'' with a short ''a'', from Greek [[grc|πλάνος|tr=plános]], meant a vagabond or impostor, a word Cicero and Horace use.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}