chorus Latin · revision 31010

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=170–c. 90 BC, Accius|origins=grc χορός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈkʰɔ.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈkɔː.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''chorus''' ''m'' (genitive chorī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The ''Culex'' has the Greek accusative plural ''chorūs''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|χορός|tr=khorós|t=dance; band of dancers]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An unknown comic poet asks why they hesitate to start cheerful dances, and Accius uses it of a choral passage in a play.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a dance with song, a choral dance, and Manilius applies it to the dance of the stars.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is a choral passage in a play, and the performers of a chorus: Horace bids the chorus play an actor's part, Virgil has the Salii in two choirs of young and old, and the Muses, nymphs and stars form choirs.^(OLD 2012) It is also a band of revellers, as Cicero's whole chorus of Antony's carousals, a group of companions, as Horace's band of girls, and a school: Cicero says Epicurus has been almost removed from the chorus of philosophers.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “choir, singing, sanctuary, those in the sanctuary”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it is a body of religious singers, a chapter of canons and the choir of a church.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''choir'' (c. 1300, through Old French) and ''chorus'' (1560s) come from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of a choral passage.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of revellers and of a school of philosophers.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of the chorus of a play.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English [[m|en|choir]].^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – English [[m|en|chorus]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A dance with singing, choral dance.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A choral passage (in a play).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|chorus]], [[m|en|choir]] (of performers, Muses, nymphs, stars).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A band, company; a school (of philosophers).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A choir; the [[m|en|sanctuary]].^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A chapter of [[m|en|canon|alt=canons]]; the choir of a church.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[choricus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chorēa]]

+ * [[en|choir]]

+ * [[en|chorus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Medieval Latin ''chorus'' as a dry measure is a spelling of [[corus]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}