mutus Latin · revision 30847

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *mū̆-to-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmuː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmuː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mūtus''' (feminine mūta, neuter mūtum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*mūto-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*mū̆-to-]], from an imitative root: de Vaan explains it as one “who cannot say anything but ⟨mū⟩”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Cognate with [[sa|मूक|tr=mū́ka-|t=dumb]], [[grc|μυκός|tr=mukós|t=dumb]] and [[xcl|մունջ|tr=munǰ|t=dumb]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) Within Latin it is related to [[m|la|muttiō|t=to mutter]] and [[m|la|mussō|t=to murmur]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius, in a tragedy: ''dūcite eō … mūtās quadrupedīs'', “lead the dumb four-footed beasts there”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first said of animals, which can only make inarticulate sounds, and as a neuter plural noun ''mūta'' are the dumb creatures.^(OLD 2012) Of people it is dumb, lacking speech (Plautus), and of things soundless; the ''dea Mūta'' was a nymph Jupiter struck dumb for talking too much (Ovid).^(OLD 2012) It often means simply silent, saying nothing, as Plautus' joke that no silent woman has ever been found, and a ''persōna mūta'' is a character who says nothing on stage.^(OLD 2012) With emotion it is speechless (Terence: he said nothing on the spot).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “dumb, unable to speak”, and as a noun a mute person.^(Stelten 1995) In New Latin it is used as a specific epithet in biology.^(Wiktionary) English ''mute'' came through Old French ''muet'' in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius of dumb beasts.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of dumb and silent people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a silent character on the stage.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|mute]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(of animals)'' Inarticulate, [[m|en|dumb]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of persons)'' Unable to speak, dumb, [[m|en|mute]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|silent]], saying nothing; making no sound.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Speechless (with emotion).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A mute person;^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) ''(neuter plural)'' dumb creatures.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[muttiō]]

+ * [[muttītiō]]

+ * [[obmūtēscō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mūgiō]]

+ * [[mussō]]

+ * [[en|mute]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}