modius Latin · revision 31444

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''modius''' ''m'' (genitive modiī or modī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Cato has a neuter ''modium'', plural ''modia'';^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) the genitive plural is often ''modium'', as in Varro, Cicero and Caesar.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|modus|t=measure]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ius]], perhaps with a word for “vessel” understood.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The TLL compares Greek [[m|grc|μέδιμνος|tr=médimnos|t=medimnus, a grain measure]].^(TLL) De Vaan traces ⟨modus⟩ to [[itc-pro|*medo-|t=measure, judgement]] and [[ine-pro|*med-o-|t=measure]], cognate with [[xum|meřs|t=law]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Isidore of Seville said it is so called because it is complete in its own measure.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) who has a genitive plural ''modiōrum'' in the ''Miles gloriosus'';^(Lewis & Short 1879) an early law on public weights and measures fixes sixteen pounds to the ''modius''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a measuring vessel of standard size, as in the law that punishes anyone who makes the public weights, measures and vessels smaller or larger, and figuratively ''plēnō modiō'', in full measure.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Above all it is the Roman dry measure, especially for grain, of sixteen ''sextāriī'' or a sixth of a ''medimnus'', about a peck or nine litres.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “bushel, peck, measure”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it is also a land measure, the area sown with a ''modius'' of grain.^(Niermeyer 1976) Köbler finds it in the capitularies, councils, charters and many law codes.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato has the neuter ''modium''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of grain measured in ''modiī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville explains it from ''modus''.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A measuring vessel of standard size;^(OLD 2012) ''plēnō modiō'', in full measure.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The ''modius'', a Roman dry [[m|en|measure]] of sixteen sextarii, about a [[m|en|peck]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) a [[m|en|bushel]].^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A land measure, the area sown with a ''modius'' of grain.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[modiālis]]

+ * [[modiatio]]

+ * [[modiolum]]

+ * [[modiolus]]

+ * [[sēmodius]]

+ * [[trimodius]]

+ * [[decemmodius]]

+ * [[sēsquimodius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[modus]]

+ * [[sextārius]]

+ * [[medimnum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Modius'' is also a Roman family name.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}