semita Latin · revision 31857

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂mei-o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈseː.mɪ.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈsɛː.mi.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sēmita''' ''f'' (genitive sēmitae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Inscriptions have a neuter plural ''sēmita'' and a dative plural ''sēmitibus''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|sē-|meō|t1=aside|t2=to go, pass]], a “going aside”: de Vaan explains it as ⟨*sē-mit-⟩, a compounded root noun with a t-suffix, like [[trāmes|t=footpath]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) The verb [[m|la|meō]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*mejo-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₂mei-o-|t=to exchange, change]], through “change places, pass”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|ἀμείβω|tr=ameíbō|t=to exchange]] and [[lt|maĩnas|t=exchange]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Varro explained it as ⟨sēmiter⟩, “half a road”, for a narrow way.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein's derivation from [[secō|alt=secāre]] “to cut” is not followed by de Vaan.^(Döderlein 1874)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has “I'd like someone to show me a road or a path from here”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a side path or track, and in a town an alley or lane, the opposite of [[via]]: Cicero speaks of the very narrow lanes of Capua, and Caesar of chariots sent out by every known road and path.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Plautus uses it of the sidewalk, as in the ''Curculio'', where a slave threatens to knock anyone off it head first.^(OLD 2012) Varro has it of the tracks dormice make in their jars, and Manilius of the trail left by a moving star.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein describes it as a footpath that often runs beside the high road.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “path, way, lane, narrow way, footpath”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of the tracks of dormice.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of narrow lanes.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of known roads and paths.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A narrow way, [[m|en|footpath]], side path; in a town, an [[m|en|alley]], [[m|en|lane]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A course, track.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A sidewalk, [[m|en|pavement]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The trail of a moving object.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sēmitālis]]

+ * [[sēmitārius]]

+ * [[sēmitō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[meo|alt=meō]]

+ * [[trames|alt=trāmes]]

+ * [[via]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}