parcus Latin · revision 31345

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂er(ḱ)-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈpar.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈpar.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''parcus''' (feminine parca, neuter parcum, comparative parcior, superlative parcissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|parcō|t=to spare]];^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) the TLL suggests it was made on the model of [[m|la|largus|t=generous]] beside ⟨largior⟩.^(TLL) De Vaan reports the proposal of Keller and Weiss to derive ⟨parcō⟩ from ⟨*pe-h₂erk-⟩ “to hold off”, from the root [[ine-pro|*h₂er(ḱ)-|t=to hold]] of [[m|la|arceō|t=to keep off]], and rejects a link with Sanskrit “to fill”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has “nobody was ever thought as thrifty or as self-controlled” in the ''Mostellaria'', and “nobody is stingier from poverty than he” in the ''Aulularia'';^(OLD 2012) Köbler also gives Plautus.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is thrifty or economical, and in a bad sense stingy or parsimonious, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) It is restrained, moderate or careful, as Horace's “a sparing and infrequent worshipper of the gods”, cautious in statement, as Pliny the Elder's “by the most cautious authorities”, and with an infinitive slow to do something, as in Martial.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of things it is moderate in amount, scanty or slight, as Virgil's cheese touched with a little salt.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “sparing, stingy”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of thrift and stinginess.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of a sparing worshipper.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of cautious authorities.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|thrifty|alt=Thrifty]], [[m|en|frugal]]; stingy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Restrained, moderate; cautious; slow (to do).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Scanty, slight, small.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[parcē]]

+ * [[parciter]]

+ * [[parcitās]]

+ * [[parcēprōmus]]

+ * [[dēparcus]]

+ * [[praeparcus]]

+ * [[triparcus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[parcō]]

+ * [[parsimōnia]]

+ * [[arceō]]

+ * [[largus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A medieval ''parcus'', “park, enclosure”, is a form of ''parricus'';^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976) the TLL notes that this word was once wrongly thought to occur in older Latin.^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}