astus Latin · revision 32332

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈaːs.tʊs], [ˈas.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈas.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''astus''' or '''āstus''' ''m'' (genitive astūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(de Vaan 2008) Vendryes proposed that it is [[der|la|astō|t=to stand by]], as a u-stem noun [[itc-pro|*ad-stu-]], from [[ine-pro|*-sth₂-u-|t=a standing by]], comparing the adverb [[m|la|praestō|t=at hand]], which appears in some inscriptions as ⟨praestū⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Ancient grammarians derived it from [[grc|ἄστυ|tr=ástu|t=town]], since those who live in a town seem shrewd and sharp;^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) Ernout and Meillet thought the Greek derivation might reflect a pun modelled on [[m|la|urbānē|t=wittily]], but de Vaan notes that the adverb took this sense only after the Old Latin period.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has it first; from Plautus to Ovid only the ablative astū is found.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means cunning, craft or guile, mostly in the ablative astū, used almost as an adverb, “by craft”, and good or bad in tone.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Other cases appear after Ovid, and especially in the plural it is a trick or stratagem, as Seneca has Ulysses weaving tricks in his crafty heart.^(OLD 2012) Servius glosses astū as malice and says that we properly call malicious people [[astutus|alt=astūtī]].^(TLL) Church Latin glosses it cleverness or cunning.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has the ablative astū.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of the tricks of Ulysses.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|cunning|alt=Cunning]], [[m|en|craft]], [[m|en|guile]];^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary) ''astū'', by craft.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A trick, [[m|en|stratagem]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[astutus|alt=astūtus]]

+ * [[astutia|alt=astūtia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[astū]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}