plectrum Latin · revision 32692

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=grc πλῆκτρον}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈpɫeːk.trũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈplɛk.trum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''plēctrum''' ''n'' (genitive plēctrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|πλῆκτρον|tr=plêktron|t=thing to strike with]],^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) from [[m|grc|πλήσσω|tr=plḗssō|t=to strike]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Köbler traces the Greek word to the root [[ine-pro|*plāk-|t=to strike]] of Pokorny.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who says that people commonly call the tongue like a plectrum, the teeth like strings and the nostrils like horns.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the quill with which the strings of a lyre were struck.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In poetry it stands for lyric poetry: Horace tells another poet that he will sing of Caesar with a greater plectrum.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary also gives the lyre itself.^(Wiktionary) Silius Italicus uses it of a ship's helm.^(OLD 2012) Glosses explain it as the striker of the cithara, the small stick by which it is played, and also the helm.^(TLL) English [[m|en|plectrum]] (late 14th century) is from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the tongue as a plectrum.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 25–101 AD – Silius of a ship's helm.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''plectrum''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|plectrum]], quill for striking the strings of a [[m|en|lyre]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''(poetic)'' lyric poetry.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A lyre, lute.^(Wiktionary)

+ # The [[m|en|helm]] of a ship.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[plectripotens]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|plectrum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}