anulus Latin · revision 30965

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₁eh₂no-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈaː.nʊ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈaː.nu.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ānulus''' ''m'' (genitive ānulī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Lewis and Short reject the spelling ''annulus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|ānus|t=ring]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ulus]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis and Short note that it is not felt as a diminutive, like [[m|la|circulus]] from [[m|la|circum]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan traces ⟨ānus⟩ “ring” to [[itc-pro|*āno-|t=ring]] and [[ine-pro|*h₁eh₂no-|t=ring]], cognate with [[sga|áinne|t=ring]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius, in a comedy: ''ānulum dat aliī spectandum'', “he gives the ring to another to look at”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a finger ring, above all a signet ring for sealing;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Plautus has a man set his own ring against another's.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The TLL notes that people carried one not for ornament but for sealing, so that only one was allowed, and only to the free.^(TLL) A gold ring marked senatorial or equestrian rank, and ''iūs ānulōrum'' was the right to wear one; rings were put off in mourning, as Livy's senators lay aside their gold rings.^(OLD 2012) It is also a ring for other uses, a link of mail (Lucretius), a small circle (Varro), a curl of hair (Seneca), and in architecture a fillet (Vitruvius).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “ring”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it is a seal ring, especially a bishop's.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a signet ring.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of an iron ring.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of gold rings laid aside.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of a fillet in architecture.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A finger [[m|en|ring]], especially a [[m|en|signet ring]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A gold ring as a mark of rank;^(OLD 2012) ''iūs ānulōrum'', the right to wear one.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A ring (for other uses); a link of mail.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A small circle; a curl of hair;^(OLD 2012) ''(architecture)'' a fillet, [[m|en|annulet]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A bishop's seal ring.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ānulāris]]

+ * [[ānulārius]]

+ * [[ānulātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ānellus]]

+ * [[ānus]]

+ * [[signum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis and Short list a separate diminutive of [[ānus|alt=ānus]] in its other sense, the fundament, once in Cato.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}