infernus Latin · revision 31296

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=220–130 BC, Pacuvius|origins=ine-pro *n̥dʰero-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ĩːˈfɛr.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [iɱˈfɛr.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnfernus''' (feminine īnferna, neuter īnfernum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the stem of [[m|la|īnferus|t=lower]] with the suffix [[m|la|-nus]], after [[m|la|supernus|t=upper]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ⟨īnferus⟩ from [[itc-pro|*enþero-|t=lower]] and [[ine-pro|*n̥dʰero-|t=lower]], with ⟨f⟩ perhaps a dialect outcome.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|अधर|tr=ádhara-|t=lower]] and [[got|𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍂|tr=undar|t=under]].^(de Vaan 2008) The noun is the adjective used alone, with ⟨locus⟩ “place” understood.^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Pacuvius,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who sets the gods below against the gods of heaven.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is situated lower down, as Lucretius' lower and upper clouds, in astronomy more southerly, and underground, as Seneca's subterranean valley;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''mare īnfernum'' is the Tyrrhenian Sea, in Lucan.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Above all it is of the underworld, infernal, as Livy's ''superī īnfernīque dī'', deathlike, as Apuleius' “Stygian sleep”, and of the gods below.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ As a noun, masculine from Commodian on and neuter in the Old Latin Bible, ''īnfernus'' is the underworld and in Christian Latin hell;^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) Köbler dates the noun from Ambrose.^(Köbler 2010) Church Latin also uses it for the grave and Sheol,^(Stelten 1995) and medieval Latin for hell.^(Niermeyer 1976) Through Italian ''inferno'' it gave English [[m|en|inferno]] in 1834.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of the gods below.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of the lower clouds.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of the gods above and below.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 340–397 AD – Ambrose uses the noun.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1834 – English ''inferno'', through Italian.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lower, situated beneath; underground, [[m|en|subterranean]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''mare īnfernum'', the Tyrrhenian Sea.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of the [[m|en|underworld]], [[m|en|infernal]]; deathlike.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' The underworld;^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976) ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' [[m|en|hell]]; the grave, Sheol.^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[īnfernālis]]

+ * [[infernās]]

+ * [[īnfernum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[īnferus]]

+ * [[īnferī]]

+ * [[īnfrā]]

+ * [[supernus]]

+ * [[en|inferno]]

+ * [[en|infernal]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}