niveus Latin · revision 30962

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *sneygʷʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈnɪ.we.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈniː.ve.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''niveus''' (feminine nivea, neuter niveum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Valerius Flaccus has the genitive plural ''niveum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the stem ⟨niv-⟩ of [[m|la|nix|t=snow]] with the suffix [[m|la|-eus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) De Vaan traces ⟨nix⟩, ⟨nivis⟩ to [[itc-pro|*sn(e)iw-|t=snow]] and [[ine-pro|*sneygʷʰ-|t=to snow]], cognate with [[grc|νίφα|tr=nípha|t=snow]], [[lt|sniñga|t=it snows]], [[got|𐍃𐌽𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃|tr=snaiws|t=snow]] and [[goh|snēo|t=snow]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Catullus as its first author, whose ''niveī montis cacūmen'' is a snow-capped mountain peak.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Cicero, translating Aratus, has rocks foamed over with snow-white brine.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is made of snow, as Virgil's land shapeless with snowdrifts, and ''aqua nivea'' is snow water.^(OLD 2012) Above all it is snow-white: white were victims for the Olympian gods, ceremonial clothes and horses, as Ovid's victor drawn by white horses, the colour of good fortune, and people dressed in white togas.^(OLD 2012) It is also cold as snow, of drinks chilled with snow (Martial), and snow-covered.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short call it poetic.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “snow-white”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''niveous'' (1620s) comes from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of snow-white brine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of a snow-capped peak.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of white horses.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1620s – English [[m|en|niveous]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of [[m|en|snow]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''aqua nivea'', snow water.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|snow-white|alt=Snow-white]], snowy; white-robed.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Cold as snow; chilled with snow.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Snow-covered.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nivālis]]

+ * [[nivātus]]

+ * [[nivōsus]]

+ * [[nix]]

+ * [[ningit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}