munusculum Latin · revision 32886

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mūnusculum''' ''n'' (genitive mūnusculī); second declension^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a diminutive, [[af|la|mūnus|-culum|t1=duty, gift]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|mūnus]] to [[itc-pro|*moinos-|t=duty, obligation, task]] and tentatively to [[ine-pro|*h₂moi-no-|t=exchange]], comparing [[osc|múíníkú|t=common]] and [[sga|móin|t=value, treasure]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and the TLL date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a small gift or favour.^(OLD 2012) Cicero speaks of sending a friend a slight little present, and Caelius, writing to him, of a favour offered to an accuser.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Virgil has ⟨prīma mūnuscula⟩, first little gifts, and Juvenal little gifts not demanded.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Glosses explain it as a small gift.^(TLL) Lewis & Short call it classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it a little gift.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus.^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of first little gifts.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small [[m|en|gift]], little present; a small favour.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[munus|alt=mūnus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}