imbellis Latin · revision 31484

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la bellum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɪmˈbɛl.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [imˈbɛl.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''imbellis''' (neuter imbelle); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''inbellis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the negative prefix [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and [[bellum|t=war]] with the adjective ending [[m|la|-is]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan notes that ⟨bellum⟩ continues older ⟨duellum⟩, and calls Pinault's explanation the best: a diminutive ⟨*duenelo-⟩ of [[bonus|t=good]], “quite good, brave”, used of deeds of valour and so of war.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who warns that one must never flee danger in a way that makes one seem unwarlike and timid.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is unsuited to warfare, as Sallust's people too young or old for it, untrained for war, as Propertius' hands worn by an unwarlike spear, and not involving war.^(OLD 2012) Often in a derogatory sense it is unwarlike, peaceable or cowardly, of people and of animals, as Virgil's unwarlike stags that still fight.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of a period of time it is free from war, as Livy's three years without war.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Lewis and Short call it mostly poetic and post-Augustan.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “cowardly”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of seeming unwarlike and timid.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of those unfit for war by age.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of unwarlike stags.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of three years free from war.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unfit or untrained for war.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|unwarlike|alt=Unwarlike]], peaceable; [[m|en|cowardly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Of a time, free from war, peaceful.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imbellia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bellum]]

+ * [[bellicōsus]]

+ * [[imbēcillus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}