almus Latin · revision 31431

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂el-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈaɫ.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈal.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''almus''' (feminine alma, neuter almum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*almo-|t=fostering]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₂(e)l-mo-]], from the root of [[m|la|alō|t=to feed, nourish]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan gives the root as [[ine-pro|*h₂el-|t=to feed, raise]], cognate with [[grc|ἄναλτος|tr=ánaltos|t=insatiable]] and [[got|𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌽|tr=alan|t=to grow up]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Festus explained ⟨alma⟩ as “holy or beautiful, or nourishing, from feeding”.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Plautus as its first author;^(Köbler 2010) Ennius has “O kindly Faith” in his tragedies.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first nourishing or fostering, of a nurse or the breast, as Lucretius' coaxing talk of a kindly nurse, and life-giving, of the earth, daylight and the like.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) As an epithet of deities, especially goddesses such as Ceres and Venus, and of priestesses, it is kindly or gracious, with a genitive “kindly mother of”, and it is used of abstract things, as Lucretius' kindly sweetness and Horace's day that first smiled with kindly glory.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In Christian and medieval writers it is “holy, kindly, gracious”, as in ''Almus Spīritus'' for the Holy Spirit, and ''alma māter'' “nourishing mother”.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) Köbler finds it in Aldhelm, Bede and Hrabanus Maurus.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of kindly Faith.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of a nurse's coaxing talk.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|nourishing|alt=Nourishing]], fostering; life-giving.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # (of deities) Kindly, [[m|en|gracious]], propitious.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # (of abstract things) Kindly, genial.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Holy; cherished, forgiving, bountiful.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[almitiēs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alō]]

+ * [[alumnus]]

+ * [[alimentum]]

+ * [[en|alma mater]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}