faber Latin · revision 31701

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈfa.bɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈfaː.ber]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''faber''' ''m'' (genitive fabrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*fafros]] and, doubtfully, [[ine-pro|*dʰHbʰ-ro-|t=craftsman]]; the closest cognate is [[xcl|դարբին|tr=darbin|t=smith]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) He and the Thesaurus also compare Balto-Slavic words such as [[cu|добръ|tr=dobrŭ|t=good, beautiful]] and [[lt|dabà|t=nature, character]], and [[got|𐌲𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽|tr=gadaban|t=to happen, fit]], but their link with it is unclear.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) A Paelignian ⟨faber⟩ is probably borrowed from Latin.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) whose ''Menaechmi'' has a man wondering whether to fetch a doctor or a craftsman.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a craftsman or artisan, especially a metal worker or smith (Plautus' smith called to take off the fetters) and a builder or carpenter.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) An adjective or genitive names the craft, as ''fabri ferrarii'' “ironsmiths” in Plautus.^(OLD 2012) The ''fabri'' formed a century in the Servian census, which Cicero says the censors' records called ''centuria fabrum'', and later a unit attached to the army or fleet under a ''praefectus fabrum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein contrasts ''fabri'', workmen whose labour needs bodily strength such as carpenters and smiths, with [[opifex|alt=opifices]], who need mechanical skill.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ From it came the adjective ''faber'' “skilful”, as Ovid's Daedalus “famous for his skill in the craftsman's art”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In medieval texts it is especially the blacksmith.^(Niermeyer 1976) Church Latin glosses it “maker, artificer, carpenter”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of craftsmen, smiths and builders.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the century of the ''fabri''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses the adjective of Daedalus' craft.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – Especially of a blacksmith.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|craftsman]], [[m|en|artisan]], workman.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A metal worker, [[m|en|smith]]; a builder, [[m|en|carpenter]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # A member of the century or unit of military engineers;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''praefectus fabrum'', their commander.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of craftsmen, [[m|en|skilful]]; skilfully made.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fabrica]]

+ * [[fabrīlis]]

+ * [[malefaber]]

+ * [[affaber]]

+ * [[fabrēfaciō]]

+ * [[fabrefio]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The genitive plural is usually ''fabrum'';^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Cicero defends it as the form of the censors' records.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) A separate ''faber'' names a sea fish, the dory; the OLD thinks it is perhaps a special use of this word.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}