debilis Latin · revision 31743

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēbilis''' (neuter dēbile, comparative dēbilior, superlative dēbilissimus); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Ennius has a shortened nominative ''dēbil''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*dē-belis|t=without strength]], a compound of the type of [[m|la|inermis|t=unarmed]], made from [[m|la|dē-]] and a lost noun going back to [[ine-pro|*bel-o-|t=strength, power]]; the isolation of the word in Latin suggests it is old.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Cognate with [[sa|बल|tr=bála-|t=strength]] and [[grc|βελτίων|tr=beltíōn|t=better]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Older explanations take it from ⟨de-habilis⟩, from [[m|la|habilis|t=manageable]], or connect it with [[m|la|dēbeō|t=to owe]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) whose ''Mercator'' has a son clever enough in his own interest but “lame, blind, crippled” when sent on an errand.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means lacking bodily strength, weak, disabled or crippled, of people and animals, and of things impaired, as Lucretius' things that languish with age.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In a wider sense it is feeble or ineffective, as Accius' “without the mind, the soul is weak”.^(OLD 2012) The verb [[dēbilitō]] “to weaken” was formed from it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “maimed, feeble, weak, infirm”; in medieval texts it also means of humble rank.^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a crippled man.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius has the form ''dēbil''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of a feeble soul.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of things weakened by age.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – Of persons of humble condition.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|weak|alt=Weak]], [[m|en|disabled]], [[m|en|crippled]]; of things, impaired.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|feeble|alt=Feeble]], ineffective.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Of humble condition.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēbilitās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[habilis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}