senium Latin · revision 32579

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈsɛ.ni.ũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈsɛː.ni.um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''senium''' ''n'' (genitive seniī or senī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The OLD derives it [[af|la|senex|-ium|t1=old man]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis & Short connect it with [[m|la|seneō|t=to be old]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|senex]], and notes it may be formed from an o-stem noun, like [[m|la|senīlis]].^(de Vaan 2008) He traces the family to [[itc-pro|*seno-|t=old; old man]] and [[ine-pro|*sen-(o-)|t=old]], comparing [[sga|sen|t=old]], [[sa|सन|tr=sána-|t=old]], [[grc|ἕνος|tr=hénos|t=old, of last year]] and [[lt|sẽnas|t=old]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's earliest quotation is from Ennius, of a brave horse that rests, worn out by old age.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the condition of old age, usually with the idea of decay: Cicero writes of a work free from all disease and decay.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It can be the period of old age itself, as in Lucan, and in Statius the long course of an age.^(OLD 2012) Early on it also meant gloom and melancholy, or a cause of grief: Pacuvius lists it with fear, want and sorrow.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary gives a rare use for an old man.^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses it senility.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of a horse worn out by age.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of melancholy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of decay.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The feebleness of [[m|en|old age]], decline, [[m|en|decay]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The period of old age; [[m|en|dotage]]; poetically, the long course of anything.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|melancholy|alt=Melancholy]], gloom, chagrin; a source of grief.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(rare)'' An old man.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[seniōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[senex]]

+ * [[senectus|alt=senectūs]]

+ * [[senilis|alt=senīlis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}