infirmus Latin · revision 30839

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la in-, ine-pro *dʰer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ĩːˈfɪr.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [iɱˈfir.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnfirmus''' (feminine īnfirma, neuter īnfirmum, comparative īnfirmior, superlative īnfirmissimus, adverb īnfirmiter); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Ammianus has a third-declension form ''īnfirmis''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|in-|firmus|t1=not|t2=strong, firm]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|firmus]] to [[itc-pro|*fermo-]] and [[ine-pro|*dʰer-mo-|t=holding]], cognate with [[sa|धर्मन्|tr=dhárman-|t=support, law]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero, who says that old age makes the body weaker (''corpus faciat īnfirmius'').^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of things it is weak or fragile (Livy: the taller the ladders, the weaker they were), and in a bad state, as Caesar's damaged ships.^(OLD 2012) Of people it is frail, and in poor health: Cicero has a man weak from a long and serious illness.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Armies and fleets can be weak, food mild (Celsus), and persons, arguments or laws without force or authority.^(OLD 2012) Etymonline notes figurative senses such as superstitious, faint-hearted and inconstant.^(Etymonline)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “weak, sick, infirm”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it meant ill, and of documents null and void.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''infirm'' dates from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of old age and illness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of damaged ships.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of weak ladders.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|infirm]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|weak]], fragile; in poor condition.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of persons)'' [[m|en|frail]], feeble; [[m|en|sick]], unwell.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(military)'' Weak.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of food, remedies)'' Mild.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Powerless, ineffectual;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''(of arguments)'' inconclusive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Null and void.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[īnfirmitās]]

+ * [[perinfirmus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[firmus]]

+ * [[īnfirmō]]

+ * [[en|infirm]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}