portentum Latin · revision 31569

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=220–130 BC, Pacuvius|origins=la tendō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''portentum''' ''n'' (genitive portentī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of the past participle of [[portendō|t=to foretell, portend]], used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) ⟨portendō⟩ is from [[m|la|por-]] and [[tendō|t=to stretch]], which de Vaan derives from [[ine-pro|*ten-d(h)-|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Pacuvius;^(Köbler 2010) the OLD's earliest example is from Accius, a prayer that the portents may turn out well for the people.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is an abnormal event taken to foreshadow something momentous, a portent, in Accius, Varro and Cicero's speech on the answer of the soothsayers.^(OLD 2012) Without reference to the future it is a prodigy, an unnatural event: Pliny the Elder reports a great portent near Mutina, where two mountains ran together.^(OLD 2012) Of people it is a monster of wickedness, as Cicero's “Gabinius and Piso, the two monsters of the state”.^(OLD 2012) It is also a monstrous invention or a fantastic tale: Cicero asks whether certain expressions are words or monstrosities, and joins the errors of the poets with the fantasies of the magi.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Cicero lists it with ''mōnstrum'', ''prōdigium'' and ''ostentum'' as near-synonyms, and glossaries render it with [[grc|τέρας|tr=téras|t=portent]].^(TLL) Church Latin has it for portent, wonder, prodigy, omen.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|portent]] (1560s) came from it through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of portents for the people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of portents and of human monsters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of a prodigy near Mutina.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1560s – English [[m|en|portent]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|omen]], [[m|en|portent]], a sign foretelling some great event.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A [[m|en|prodigy]], an unnatural or extraordinary thing; a [[m|en|monster]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(of a person)'' A monster of wickedness.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A monstrous invention or practice; a fantastic tale.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[portentificus]]

+ * [[portentōsus]]

+ * [[triportentum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[portendō]]

+ * [[prōdigium]]

+ * [[ostentum]]

+ * [[mōnstrum]]

+ * [[en|portent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein says that among the signs outside the ordinary course of nature the ''portentum'' is the one that arouses terror and threatens danger, while the ''prōdigium'' is full of meaning, the ''ostentum'' arouses wonder and the ''mōnstrum'' is unnatural and ugly.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}