iners Latin · revision 30695

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₂r-tí-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɪ.nɛrs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈiː.ners]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''iners''' (genitive inertis, comparative inertior, superlative inertissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The ablative singular is usually ''inertī'';^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ovid has ''inerte''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Manuscripts often spell it ''inhers''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the negative prefix [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and [[m|la|ars|t=skill, art]], as [[m|la|sollers|t=skilful]] is from ⟨sollus⟩ and ⟨ars⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces ⟨ars⟩ to [[itc-pro|*arti-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₂r-tí-|t=the fitting]], cognate with [[ae|arəiti-|t=reward]] and [[grc|ἄρτι|tr=árti|t=just, exactly]].^(de Vaan 2008) Lucilius already plays on it: a man is called ⟨iners⟩ who has no ⟨ars⟩.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler and de Vaan record it from Naevius on.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008) Ennius, in a tragedy, scorns superstitious seers and shameless soothsayers, ''aut inertēs aut īnsānī'', “either unskilled or mad”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “without skill, clumsy, crude” the word passed to its usual sense, “inactive, idle, lazy”: Plautus' false friends are ''linguā factiōsī, inertēs operā'', “busy with the tongue, idle in deed”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is used of sluggish old age (Tibullus), of idle time and of useless things, of men without spirit, unmanly (Cicero: idle men plotting against the bravest), and of inert matter such as heavy clods (Virgil).^(OLD 2012) It also means powerless, feeble, ineffective, of words, of weak medicines, of tasteless food (Horace), and of an impotent man (Catullus).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “simple, inactive, idle, lazy”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''inert'' (1640s) came from French ''inerte'' or directly from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius, its first recorded use.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of unskilled seers.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of idle friends.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of heavy clods.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1640s – English [[m|en|inert]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unskilled, clumsy, crude.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Inactive, [[m|en|idle]], [[m|en|lazy]], sluggish;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''(of time)'' unemployed.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Useless, worthless.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Spiritless, [[m|en|cowardly]], unmanly; tame.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of matter)'' Motionless, [[m|en|inert]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Powerless, ineffective;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''(of food)'' [[m|en|insipid]]; impotent.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inertia]]

+ * [[inerticulus]]

+ * [[inersitūdō]]

+ * [[inerter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ars]]

+ * [[sollers]]

+ * [[en|inert]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}