hebes Latin · revision 32509

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈhɛ.bɛs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛː.bes]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''hebes''' (genitive hebetis, comparative hebetior, superlative hebetissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Ennius and Caecilius have the accusative ''hebem''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008) The ablative is usually ''hebetī'', but Celsus has ''hebete''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Manuscripts often spell it ''ebes''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It has no etymology.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan finds it impossible to derive the verb [[m|la|hebeō|t=to be blunt]] from the adjective or the adjective from the verb, and posits a stem *heb- underlying both; the adjective is a ⟨t⟩-stem like [[m|la|teres|t=round]] and [[m|la|dīves|t=rich]].^(de Vaan 2008) He explains the accusative hebem as formed on the nominative.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose braggart soldier says something would happen if his sword were not blunt.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first blunt, of an edge or point, and in surveying obtuse, of angles.^(OLD 2012) Of the eyes and the other senses it is dim or dull: Cicero writes that grief dims the sight, and that the ears of the Roman people are duller than their eyes.^(OLD 2012) Of colours and light it is faint, as in Ovid, and of taste weak, as in Columella.^(OLD 2012) Of people it is sluggish, as Cicero's dull grief, and of the body inert, as in Celsus.^(OLD 2012) Most often it is dull-witted or stupid: Accius has someone not to be thought as dull as cattle.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero also uses it of a style.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it dull, stupefied.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of a dull-witted person.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of dim sight and dull ears.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus of an inert body.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|blunt|alt=Blunt]], dull, not sharp; of angles, [[m|en|obtuse]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of the eyes or senses, dim, weak, dull.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of colour or light, faint; of taste or smell, weak.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Sluggish, inert, lacking energy.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Dull-witted, [[m|en|stupid]], dense; of style, dull.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hebetō]]

+ * [[hebetūdō]]

+ * [[hebetēscō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hebēscō]]

+ * [[hebetātiō]]

+ * [[hebetātrīx]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}