languesco Latin · revision 31889

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=96–55 BC, Lucretius|origins=la langueō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɫaŋˈɡʷeːs.koː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [laŋˈɡʷɛs.ko]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''languēscō''' (present infinitive languēscere, perfect active langüī); third conjugation, no passive, no supine stem^(Wiktionary)

+ Lucan scans the perfect ''languit'' as three syllables.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|langueō|-scō|t1=to be weak, faint]], an inchoative.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives [[m|la|langueō]] from an adjective “faint, weak”, from [[itc-pro|*(s)lā̆ng-u-]], perhaps [[ine-pro|*sl̥-n-ǵ-u-]], a nasalised form of the root of [[m|la|laxus|t=loose]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|λαγαρός|tr=lagarós|t=slack, thin]] and [[ang|slæc|t=weak, slack]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Lucretius;^(de Vaan 2008) Catullus has “not before death makes my eyes grow faint”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to grow weak or feeble, and to fall sick, as Suetonius' Nero, ill only three times in fourteen years.^(OLD 2012) Of mental powers it is to fail, as Cicero's fear that the orator grows weak with age.^(OLD 2012) Of plants it is to droop or wilt, as Virgil's flower cut by the plough, and of moving things to lose force, as Ovid's wave dying down after a strong wind;^(OLD 2012) Curtius uses it of water cooling.^(OLD 2012) Of people it is to lose resolve or calm down, and of efforts and passions to flag, both in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it “become weak, faint, languid”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of eyes growing faint in death.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of an orator weakening with age.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of a wilting flower.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius of Nero falling ill.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To grow weak, faint, [[m|en|languid]]; to fall sick; of the mind, to fail.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of plants, to [[m|en|wilt]], droop; to lose force or intensity.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To lose keenness, calm down; of efforts, to [[m|en|flag]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ēlanguēscō]]

+ * [[oblanguēscō]]

+ * [[relanguēscō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[languefaciō]]

+ * [[languēns]]

+ * [[langueō]]

+ * [[languidē]]

+ * [[languidulus]]

+ * [[languidus]]

+ * [[languificus]]

+ * [[languor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}