vetulus Latin · revision 32865

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈwɛ.tʊ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈvɛː.tu.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vetulus''' (feminine vetula, neuter vetulum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|vetus|-ulus|t1=old]], a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan traces [[m|la|vetus]] to [[itc-pro|*wetos-|t=year]] and [[ine-pro|*wet-os-|t=year]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[hit|witt-|t=year]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus uses it of a decrepit old man, and as a noun for a little old man.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means somewhat advanced in years, elderly, ageing.^(OLD 2012) Cicero applies it to a gladiator and to horses, and contrasts old trees with young ones.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Catullus has old Falernian wine and Horace an old crow.^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a noun, ⟨vetula⟩ is a little old woman in Plautus, Juvenal and Martial, and Cicero jokingly addresses a friend as ⟨mī vetule⟩, my little old fellow.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler also finds it in the Bible.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a decrepit old man.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a gladiator, of horses and of trees.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of old wine.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal of an old woman.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Somewhat advanced in years, [[m|en|elderly]], ageing; little old, poor old.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of things, old: of trees, wine, jars.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A little old man;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''vetula'', a little old woman.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Jokingly, ''mī vetule'', my little old fellow.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vetus]]

+ * [[vetustus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Medieval Latin has a ''vetulus'' meaning a [[m|en|cowherd]], from [[vitulus]] “calf”.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}