infantia Latin · revision 32223

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=86/82 BC, Rhetorica ad Herennium|origins=ine-pro *bʰeh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ĩːˈfan.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [iɱˈfan.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnfantia''' ''f'' (genitive īnfantiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|īnfāns|-ia|t1=unable to speak; child]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) [[m|la|īnfāns]] is [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and the participle of [[m|la|for|alt=fārī|t=to speak]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*fā-|t=to speak]] and [[ine-pro|*bʰeh₂-|t=to speak]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Augustine explained that it is so called because a person cannot yet speak.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium''.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's first example is Lucretius' “inability of the tongue”, which drives children to gestures.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is inability to speak, and in Cicero inability to express oneself, the want of eloquence of one who knows a subject but cannot explain it.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It then means infancy, strictly the time before one can talk, and childhood in general, as Seneca the Elder's “from infancy”; also childishness, as Seneca reproaches old men with it.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder uses it collectively of young children.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it infancy, childhood.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|infancy]] (late 14th century) is from Anglo-French and directly from the Latin word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 86/82 BC – The ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of the inability to speak.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of young children.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|infancy]] is formed from it, partly through Anglo-French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Inability to speak, [[m|en|muteness]]; inability to express oneself, want of [[m|en|eloquence]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|infancy|alt=Infancy]], early childhood; childishness.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Collectively, young children.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[īnfandus]]

+ * [[īnfāns]]

+ * [[īnfantārius]]

+ * [[īnfanticīda]]

+ * [[īnfanticīdium]]

+ * [[īnfantilis]]

+ * [[īnfantō]]

+ * [[īnfantula]]

+ * [[īnfantulus]]

+ * [[en|infancy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}