planctus Latin · revision 31970

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=4 BC–65 AD, Seneca|origins=ine-pro *pl̥h₂-n-g-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''plānctus''' ''m'' (genitive plānctūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|plangō|-tus|t1=to strike, beat the breast]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|plangō]] to [[itc-pro|*plāng-e/o-|t=to hit]] and [[ine-pro|*pl̥h₂-n-g-|t=to hit]], with a shift to beating one's breast, hence to wail and mourn.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|πλάζω|tr=plázō|t=to drive off course]] and [[got|𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍆𐌻𐍉𐌺𐌿𐌽|tr=faiflokun|t=to hit, flog]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lewis & Short call it post-Augustan and mostly poetic;^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca uses it of the beating of the breast in mourning.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a noisy striking or beating, as the flapping of the Harpies' wings in Valerius Flaccus and the roar of waves dashed on the rocks in Lucan.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Above all it is the beating of the breast, arms and face in mourning, and so lamentation, as Curtius' palace ringing with laments and Tacitus' groans and lamentation.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The Vulgate has “there was great mourning in Israel”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In Medieval Latin it is also a legal complaint or action,^(Niermeyer 1976) and a kind of song or poem of lament.^(Wiktionary) English [[m|en|plaint]] comes from it through Old French, recorded from about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of breast-beating in mourning.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Curtius of a palace ringing with laments.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of groans and lamentation.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English [[m|en|plaint]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A noisy beating or striking; the roar of waves.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The beating of the breast in grief; [[m|en|lamentation]], [[m|en|wailing]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A legal complaint, action.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A song or poem of lament.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plango|alt=plangō]]

+ * [[plaga|alt=plāga]]

+ * [[plangor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}