pulvinus Latin · revision 32921

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *pe/olH-u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [pʊɫˈwiː.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [pulˈviː.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pulvīnus''' ''m'' (genitive pulvīnī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The TLL derives it from [[pulvis]] “dust” with the suffix ⟨-no-⟩, from ⟨*poluis-no-⟩ as [[ahenus|alt=aēnus]] is from ⟨*aies-no-⟩; it was first an adjective, meaning something filled with dust and spread under people sitting.^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The OLD calls it doubtful and Köbler unclear.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces [[m|la|pulvis]] to [[itc-pro|*pe/olaw(-is)-|t=dust]] and [[ine-pro|*pe/olH-u-|t=chaff]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) in whom one character offers another a cushion on a bench and is told he is propped up well enough.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a cushion, pillow or bolster to sit or lie on: Cicero has Crassus ask for cushions, and Sallust a letter put on the pillow above someone's head.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary also gives a seat of honour.^(Wiktionary) It is used of many things shaped or working like a cushion: a raised bed or ridge in a field, as in Varro, a raised border along a floor, as in Columella, the cushion of an Ionic capital, the rounded edge of a bath, a platform built in making a harbour, and part of a catapult, all in Vitruvius.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says that ''culcita'' is a hard-stuffed pillow, while ''pulvīnus'' and ''pulvīnar'' are soft ones, ''pulvīnus'' for ordinary occasions and ''pulvīnar'' for solemn religious ones.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it cushion.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a cushion offered on a bench.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of raised beds in a field.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of cushions asked for by Crassus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of architectural cushions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|cushion]], [[m|en|pillow]], [[m|en|bolster]]; a seat of honour.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A raised bed or ridge of earth; a raised border along a floor.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(architecture)'' The cushion of an Ionic capital; the rounded edge of a bath; a platform in a harbour.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Part of a [[m|en|catapult]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pulvīllus]]

+ * [[pulvīnar]]

+ * [[pulvīnātus]]

+ * [[pulvīnulus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pulvis]]

+ * [[culcita]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}