gemma Latin · revision 30928

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=itc-pro *gebmā}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɡɛm.ma]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈd͡ʒɛm.ma]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gemma''' ''f'' (genitive gemmae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[inh|itc-pro|*gebmā|t=bud, sprout]], from [[ine-pro|*ǵeb-m-|t=sprout, bud]], with “bud” as the first meaning; it is cognate with [[lt|žémbėti|t=to germinate]] and [[cu|прозѧбнѫти|tr=prozębnǫti|t=to germinate]].^(de Vaan 2008) Walde and Hofmann, Pokorny and the OLD derive it from a root [[ine-pro|*ǵembʰ-|t=to bite]]; de Vaan separates that root, “to cut”, from the one meaning “to germinate”, and rejects a link with [[m|la|gemō|t=to groan]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan gives Plautus as its first author.^(de Vaan 2008) In the ''Curculio'' a seal is meant: ''sub gemmā'' “under seal”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is the bud or eye of a vine or tree, as in Cato's instructions for grafting.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Then it is a precious stone, as Cicero's necklace of gold and gems, a cup made of such a stone (Virgil), a signet or seal, a drop of resin or amber, and in Martial a pebble for marking days and a piece in a board game.^(OLD 2012) Quintilian notes that the ancients took “jewel” to be the original sense.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “jewel, gem, precious stone”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a seal.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of a bud.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of precious stones.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial of a pebble and a game piece.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|bud]] or eye (of a plant).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A precious stone, [[m|en|gem]], jewel.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A cup of precious stone.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|signet]], seal.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A drop of resin; [[m|en|amber]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A pebble (for marking days); a piece in a board game.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bigemmis]]

+ * [[gemmārius]]

+ * [[gemmeus]]

+ * [[gemmifer]]

+ * [[gemmō]]

+ * [[gemmōsus]]

+ * [[gemmula]]

+ * [[trigemmis]]

+ * [[gemmātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|gem]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}