intervallum Latin · revision 30750

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la vallum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɪn.tɛrˈwal.lũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [in.terˈval.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''intervallum''' ''n'' (genitive intervallī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Vitruvius has the genitive plural ''intervallum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|inter-|vallum|t1=between|t2=palisade, rampart]], first the space between the stakes of a palisade.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Varro, quoted by Cassiodorus, explained ⟨intervalla⟩ as the spaces between the heads of the stakes.^(TLL) The origin of the noun for rampart is uncertain: de Vaan sets up, with a query, [[itc-pro|*walso-]] and [[ine-pro|*uh₂lso-]], and finds Schrijver's link with [[grc|ἧλος|tr=hêlos|t=nail]] possible but not compelling.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Menaechmi'': ''sed mī intervallum iam hōs diēs multōs fuit'', “but I have had a break these many days”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis & Short give as its proper sense the open space within the rampart of a camp, between two palisades, a use the surveyor Hyginus describes.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In general use it is the distance between two things (Cato prescribes a gap of half a foot between beds), a width, and with ''ex intervallō'' “from a distance”; also a gap or interstice, and ''per intervalla'' “at intervals”.^(OLD 2012) Of time it is the period between two events, with ''ex intervallō'' “after a while”, and a break, respite or intermission; in speaking it is a pause (''Rhetorica ad Herennium'').^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it for an interval of the musical scale in the Dream of Scipio, and Cato already for a difference in degree: between a morsel and grass there is a long ''intervallum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “space, interval, intermission, break”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''interval'' (early 14th century) came from Old French ''intervalle'' and directly from Late Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of a gap between beds and of a difference.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of intervals of time and of the musical scale.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English borrows it as [[m|en|interval]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The space between the palisades of a camp.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|distance]]; width;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''ex intervallō'', from a distance.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A gap, [[m|en|interstice]];^(OLD 2012) ''per intervalla'', at intervals.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An [[m|en|interval]] of time;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''ex intervallō'', after a while.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A break, [[m|en|respite]], [[m|en|intermission]]; a pause in speaking.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(music)'' An interval.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A difference (in degree or quality).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vallum]]

+ * [[vallus]]

+ * [[circumvallō]]

+ * [[en|interval]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}