molestus Latin · revision 30661

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *mel-e/os-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [mɔˈɫɛs.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [moˈlɛs.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''molestus''' (feminine molesta, neuter molestum, comparative molestior, superlative molestissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is related to [[m|la|mōlēs|t=mass, burden; effort]] and formed like [[m|la|modestus]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan, following Schrijver, derives it from ⟨*melesto-⟩, built on a lost neuter s-stem ⟨*melos⟩ “trouble, obstacle”, [[itc-pro|*mel-e/os-|t=trouble]], [[ine-pro|*mel-e/os-]], with ⟨mo-⟩ taken from ⟨*molos⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has ''numquidnam tibi molestumst, gnāte mī, sī haec nunc mēcum accubat?'', “you don't mind, do you, my son, if she reclines with me now?”, and ''abscēde hinc, molestus nē sīs!'', “go away, don't be a nuisance!”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Molestus'' is “troublesome, annoying, vexing, distressing, tiresome”, of people and things (Cicero: a troublesome province; laborious and wearisome toil).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) The TLL notes that the comparative ''molestior'' is found from Cicero on, while Terence still has ''magis molestus''.^(TLL) The ''tunica molesta'' was a garment smeared with combustible materials in which criminals were burned alive (Martial).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “troublesome, burdensome, annoying, grievous”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''molestus nē sīs!''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''magis molestus''.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''prōvincia molesta''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial: ''tunica molesta''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|troublesome|alt=Troublesome]], annoying, irksome, tiresome.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Distressing, grievous.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''tunica molesta'', the combustible shirt in which criminals were burned alive.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[molestia]]

+ * [[permolestus]]

+ * [[submolestus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mōlēs]]

+ * [[mōlior]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}