molior Latin · revision 30742

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la mōlēs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmoː.li.ɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɔː.li.or]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mōlior''' (present infinitive mōlīrī or mōlīrier, perfect active mōlītus sum); fourth conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+ Lucretius has the infinitive ''mōlīrier''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ An active ''mōliō'' is also found.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|mōlēs|t=mass, bulk; great effort]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan sets up a Proto-Italic noun or adjective ⟨*mōlo-⟩ “labour, effort” with a verb ⟨*mōl-i-je-⟩ “to labour”; since ⟨mōlēs⟩ is attested later than the verb, it may also have been formed from it.^(de Vaan 2008) He relates [[molestus]] through an s-stem ⟨*melos⟩ “trouble”, and notes that this rules out the derivation from ⟨*m(e)h₃-l-⟩ in LIV.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Bacchides'': ''īnsānum magnum mōlior negōtium'', “I am setting up a mad, huge piece of business”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb expresses effort against weight: to labour to bring something about, to strive (Plautus: ''viden ut miserē mōliuntur?'', “see how hard they struggle?”), and to build something large, such as the walls and citadel of Carthage in Virgil.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It also means to set in motion with effort: to hurl missiles, to get a fleet under way, to wield an axe, to weigh anchor (Livy), to stir the soil with iron (Lucretius).^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it is to rouse a person, to unsettle someone's loyalty, to make one's way with difficulty (Livy of Hannibal), and to force something from its place.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “plot, undertake, devise, practise”, and Wiktionary adds “to attempt, stir up”.^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of engineering a scheme and of struggling.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of working the fields.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of building a citadel.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of weighing anchor and of Hannibal on the move.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To labour to bring about, [[m|en|engineer]], undertake.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make efforts, [[m|en|strive]], toil.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To build, [[m|en|construct]] (something large).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To set in motion; to hurl; to wield; to shift, stir.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To rouse; to unsettle; to stir up, [[m|en|plot]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To make one's way with effort.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To force from its place.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[admōlior]]

+ * [[āmōlior]]

+ * [[commōlior]]

+ * [[dēmōlior]]

+ * [[ēmōlior]]

+ * [[mōlīmen]]

+ * [[mōlīmentum]]

+ * [[mōlītiō]]

+ * [[obmōlior]]

+ * [[praemōlior]]

+ * [[remōlior]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mōlēs]]

+ * [[molestē]]

+ * [[molestia]]

+ * [[molestus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}