parsimonia Latin · revision 31973

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂er(ḱ)-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [par.sɪˈmoː.ni.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [par.siˈmɔː.ni.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''parsimōnia''' ''f'' (genitive parsimōniae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''parcimōnia''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|parcō|-mōnia|t1=to spare]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains that it was built on the perfect [[m|la|parcō|alt=parsī]], more common in Old Latin than later.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) He traces [[m|la|parcō]] to [[itc-pro|*pe-ark-e/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₂er(ḱ)-|t=to hold]], with Keller and Weiss' ⟨*pe-h₂erk-⟩ “to hold off”, the root of [[m|la|arceō|t=to keep off]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has “he spoke very prettily in favour of thrift”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is thrift or frugality, and also stinginess, as in Tacitus' gift sent to a mother without any stinginess.^(OLD 2012) With a genitive it is moderation in something, as Nepos' restraint in food and dress, and Cicero uses it of an economical, unadorned style.^(OLD 2012) The verse summary of Plautus' ''Truculentus'' uses it of savings.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it “frugality, thrift, parsimony”,^(Stelten 1995) and in Medieval Latin it is sobriety in eating and drinking, and fasting.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|parsimony]] is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of economy of style.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 100–24 BC – Nepos of moderation in food and dress.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of stinginess.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|parsimony]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|thrift|alt=Thrift]], [[m|en|frugality]]; stinginess, [[m|en|parsimony]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Moderation, restraint; economy of words.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Savings.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Sobriety, temperance; fasting.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[parco|alt=parcō]]

+ * [[parcus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}