arista Latin · revision 32384

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=116–27 BC, Varro}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [aˈrɪs.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [aˈris.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''arista''' ''f'' (genitive aristae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unknown.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary) Köbler mentions a possible Etruscan origin, but Wiktionary thinks this unlikely, since the early Latins were farmers and the form gives no reason for it; it compares [[m|la|genista|t=broom]] for the formation.^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary also reports a comparison with Baltic names of the horsetail and other words, which Puhvel found too motley, and thinks a link with [[m|la|harundō|t=reed]] somewhat likely.^(Wiktionary) Lewis & Short suggested a connection with [[m|la|ācer|t=sharp]] or with [[m|la|arō|t=to plough]].^(Lewis & Short 1879) Varro, followed by Festus, Servius and Isidore, explained it as the part that dries first, from [[m|la|ārēscō|t=to dry up]].^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Varro, who uses it of the awn on an ear of barley.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first the awn or beard of barley and other grain, and then the whole ear: Catullus imagines a crop of kisses thicker than dry ears of corn.^(OLD 2012) In poetry, usually in the plural, it is a grain crop or harvest, also used to count years.^(OLD 2012) Ovid uses it of the spikes of spikenard, and Persius of the hairs that stand on end in fear.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary adds a fishbone and, in Neo-Latin entomology, a bristle such as that on a fly's antenna.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of the awn of barley.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of ears of corn.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 34–62 AD – Persius of hairs bristling with fear.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|awn]] or beard of barley, oats or other grain.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|ear]] of grain; a spike of spikenard; a stalk.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(poetic)'' A grain crop, harvest; summer.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In the plural, hairs standing on end, gooseflesh.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|fishbone]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(New Latin)'' A [[m|en|bristle]], as on an insect's antenna.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aristātus]]

+ * [[aristifer]]

+ * [[aristosus]]

+ * [[aristiger]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}