verna Latin · revision 33083

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈwɛr.na]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈvɛr.na]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''verna''' ''m'' or f (genitive vernae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) It is perhaps [[der|ett|-]]: the OLD suggests a form ⟨*vers-na⟩ built on Etruscan [[m|ett|verse|t=fire]],^(OLD 2012) and Köbler and Wiktionary also consider an Etruscan source.^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary notes that an Indo-European origin would connect it with words for "dwelling" such as [[sa|वास्तु|tr=vā́stu|t=house]] and [[grc|ἄστυ|tr=ástu|t=town]];^(Wiktionary) Lewis & Short gave this explanation.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) who in the ''Amphitruo'' has a slave who was born in the house.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A ''verna'' was a slave born in the master's household, as opposed to one bought, and was usually treated with more indulgence;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Plautus, Caelius in a letter to Cicero, and Horace use it.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In naval inscriptions it seems to be used of men born of the union of serving sailors.^(OLD 2012) It also came to mean a common, town-bred person, especially with regard to the coarse wit such people were known for: Seneca says that a soldier from rough country is braver, while the townsman born and bred is slack.^(OLD 2012) Martial applies it to animals bred at home, as home-bred boars.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary also gives its use as a term of abuse.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a slave born in the house.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of the slack townsman.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial of home-bred boars.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|slave]] born in the master's household, a home-born slave.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A common town-bred person, especially as a coarse wit;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''(as a term of abuse)'' a low fellow.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An animal bred at home or in captivity; a home product.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vernāculus]]

+ * [[vernīlis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|vernacular]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}