nix Latin · revision 30809

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *sn(e)igʷʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈnɪks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈniks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nix''' ''f'' (genitive nivis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*sniks]], [[inh|ine-pro|*snígʷʰs|t=snow]], a root noun from [[m|ine-pro|*sneygʷʰ-|t=to snow]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The nominative ⟨nix⟩ continues ⟨*sniks⟩, and the genitive ⟨nivis⟩ ⟨*sniχʷos⟩, with the loss of the initial ⟨s⟩.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|νίφα|tr=nípha|t=snow (accusative)]], [[cy|nyf|t=snow]], [[lt|sniñga|t=it snows]], [[got|𐍃𐌽𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃|tr=snaiws|t=snow]] and, within Latin, [[m|la|ningit|t=it snows]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Stichus'': ''quasi nix tābēscit diēs'', “the day melts away like snow”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is snow, and in the plural falls or drifts of snow.^(OLD 2012) Romans used it to cool wine (Seneca's master angry with a slave who mixed the snow badly).^(OLD 2012) It is a type of whiteness, as Virgil's horses whiter than snow, and Horace calls an old woman's white hair ''capitis nivēs'', “the snows of the head”.^(OLD 2012) Apuleius transfers it to snow-white colour, of ivory.^(OLD 2012) In alchemy ''nix'' was a name for zinc oxide.^(Wiktionary)

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+ Church Latin glosses it “snow”.^(Stelten 1995)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: the day melts like snow.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of white hair.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of snow for cooling wine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|snow]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''(plural)'' falls of snow, snowdrifts.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(poetic)'' White hair (of old age).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Snow-white colour.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(alchemy)'' [[m|en|zinc oxide]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nivālis]]

+ * [[nivārius]]

+ * [[nivātus]]

+ * [[niveus]]

+ * [[nivifer]]

+ * [[nīvit]]

+ * [[nivōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ningit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}