senecta Latin · revision 31226

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *sen-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [sɛˈnɛk.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [seˈnɛk.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''senecta''' ''f'' (genitive senectae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of the adjective [[m|la|senectus|t=old]], used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The adjective comes from [[m|la|senex|t=old man]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*seno-|t=old]] and [[ine-pro|*sen-|t=old]], cognate with [[sga|sen|t=old]], [[sa|सन|tr=sána-|t=old]], [[grc|ἕνος|tr=hénos|t=of last year]], [[lt|sẽnas|t=old]] and [[got|𐍃𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹𐌲𐍃|tr=sineigs|t=old, elder]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus is its first author,^(Köbler 2010) with ''in senectā'', “in old age”, in the ''Miles gloriosus'': “I am ashamed to put this worry on you in your old age”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the period of old age and the condition of being old, as Horace's “piety will bring no delay to wrinkles and pressing old age”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Virgil uses it almost concretely of an old man, ''Daunī miserēre senectae'', “pity the old age of Daunus”.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder calls the skin that a snake casts off its ''senecta''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of old age.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of a snake's slough.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|old age|alt=Old age]]; oldness;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''(concrete)'' an old person.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The [[m|en|slough]] cast off by a snake.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[senex]]

+ * [[senectūs]]

+ * [[senīlis]]

+ * [[senātus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis and Short treat it under the noun ''senectūs'', “old age”, of which it is a poetic equivalent.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}