lucerna Latin · revision 31660

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la lūx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɫʊˈkɛr.na]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [luˈt͡ʃɛr.na]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lucerna''' ''f'' (genitive lucernae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the root of [[lūceō|t=to shine]] and [[lūx|t=light]], with the ending of [[lanterna|t=lantern]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan notes that its short ⟨u⟩ is unexplained; the TLL agrees that neither the short vowel nor the suffix is easily explained, and takes the long vowel of the Romance forms as a new formation after ⟨lūceō⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) The suffix, also in ⟨lanterna⟩, is of disputed origin and resembles Etruscan suffixes.^(Wiktionary) The root goes back to [[itc-pro|*louk-]] and [[ine-pro|*lewk-|alt=*leuk-|t=light]], cognate with [[grc|λευκός|tr=leukós|t=bright, white]] and [[sa|रोचते|tr=rócate|t=to shine]].^(de Vaan 2008) Varro derived it from ⟨lūx⟩, or from the Greek name of the lamp, [[grc|λύχνος|tr=lúkhnos]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Mostellaria'' has someone told to put out the lamp.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the oil lamp, and gives the phrases ''ad lucernam'' “by lamplight” and ''ante lucernās'' “before nightfall”.^(OLD 2012) It often alludes to night work by writers: Varro says he worked “by the lamp of Aristophanes”.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder uses it as the name of a fish whose fiery tongue shines at night.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “candle, lamp, light”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin, after the Gospel of Luke, it was also the eye, and a dormer window.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of an oil lamp.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of night study by lamplight.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * Medieval Latin – the eye; a dormer window.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An oil [[m|en|lamp]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''ad lucernam'', by lamplight;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''ante lucernās'', before nightfall.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # The lamp of nocturnal study.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|phosphorescent]] fish.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The [[m|en|eye]]; a [[m|en|dormer]] window.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lucernaris]]

+ * [[lucernarium]]

+ * [[lucernārius]]

+ * [[lucernatus]]

+ * [[lucernula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lūx]]

+ * [[lūceō]]

+ * [[lanterna]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''candēla'', a candle that can be carried about like a torch, from ''lucerna'', a lamp burning on a table.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}