malum Latin · revision 32549

+ {{homograph|1|evil}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=itc-pro *malo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈma.ɫũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmaː.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''malum''' ''n'' (genitive malī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun meaning "evil" is [[af|la|malus#1|-um|t1=bad]], the neuter of the adjective used as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|malus]] to [[itc-pro|*malo-]] and, as an uncertain proposal of Ernout and Meillet, [[ine-pro|*mol-o-|t=bad]].^(de Vaan 2008) He compares [[sga|mell|t=destruction]], [[grc|μέλεος|tr=méleos|t=idle; unhappy]] and [[lt|mẽlas|t=lie]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's first quotation is Ennius: he is too well off who has no trouble.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is trouble, pain, a misfortune, and in Plautus' phrase ⟨malum dare⟩, to make trouble for someone.^(OLD 2012) It is also evildoing, a misdeed, and an insult: in Plautus someone wants many insults said to him.^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it of harm and of a disadvantage, Cato of the faults of a crop.^(OLD 2012) It can be a cause of mischief, a disease, and of persons a pest: Lucan calls Alexander the Great the fated evil of the world.^(OLD 2012) As an oath it is an exclamation added to a question, "the devil!", from Plautus on.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of trouble and misdeeds, and as an oath.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of trouble.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of a disease.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Trouble, distress, pain;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''malum dare'', to make trouble for;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''malō'', to one's hurt.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

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

+ # Evildoing, wickedness; a misdeed.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An insult, reproach; in the plural, abuse.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Harm, damage; an injury.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A disadvantage; a fault.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A cause of mischief, an [[m|en|evil]]; a disease; of persons or monsters, a pest.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Added to a question as an oath: the deuce!, the devil!^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|2|apple}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=grc μῆλον}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmaː.ɫũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmaː.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mālum''' ''n'' (genitive mālī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The fruit is probably [[bor|grc|μῆλον|tr=mêlon|t=apple, tree fruit]], in the Doric form [[m|grc|μᾶλον|tr=mâlon]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary considers a common inheritance from [[ine-pro|*méh₂lom]] less likely.^(Wiktionary) Köbler thinks the Greek word probably came from the Mediterranean region.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has it first, with a pun on the other word: a pregnant woman must be given both a bad thing and an apple, so that she has something to gnaw.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It first covered most soft-skinned tree fruit, and later meant above all the apple.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that it was applied to quinces, pomegranates, peaches, oranges and lemons, with adjectives such as Pūnicum for the pomegranate.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Fruit ended a Roman dinner, so Horace's proverb ⟨ab ōvō usque ad māla⟩, from the egg to the apples, means from beginning to end.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Varro uses it of the golden apples of the Hesperides.^(OLD 2012) It was also a fruit tree, the fruit of the mandrake, and, as ⟨mālum terrae⟩, birthwort.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Justin has ⟨mālum discordiae⟩, an apple of discord.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it apple.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus puns on it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of planting fruit trees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace's proverb of eggs and apples.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of birthwort.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tree fruit with a soft skin; later especially an [[m|en|apple]]; with adjectives, a quince, pomegranate, peach or citron.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''ab ōvō usque ad māla'', from beginning to end.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A fruit tree.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The fruit of the [[m|en|mandrake]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''mālum terrae'', [[m|en|birthwort]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mālētum]]

+ * [[mālicorium]]

+ * [[mālifer]]

+ * [[mālinus]]

+ * [[mālogrānātum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mālus]]

+ * [[mēlō]]

+ * [[mēlopepō]]

+ * [[mēlum]]

+ * [[malus#1]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Medieval Latin also has a ''malum'' meaning the clapper of a bell, of unclear origin.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}