levamentum Latin · revision 33112

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *h₁legʷʰ-u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɫɛ.waːˈmɛn.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [le.vaˈmɛn.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''levāmentum''' ''n'' (genitive levāmentī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|levō|-mentum|t1=to lighten, relieve]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) [[m|la|levō]] is made from [[m|la|levis|t=light]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*leχu-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₁legʷʰ-u-|t=light]], with cognates such as [[grc|ἐλαχύς|tr=elakhús|t=small, little]] and [[lt|leñgvas|t=light]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL reads it from Cicero and the elder Seneca on, and notes that it is absent from poetry;^(TLL) Cicero speaks of an alleviation of miseries.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is something that relieves, a mitigation or comfort: Cicero's relief of miseries, Pliny the Younger's relief of grief,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Tacitus' question, what comfort is more honourable than a wife's.^(OLD 2012) Tacitus also uses it of a relief from tribute, and of soldiers who saw no relief except if service were entered on fixed terms.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also the act of relieving: Seneca says medicine is used for some to cure them, for others to ease them.^(OLD 2012) The TLL records Rhaeto-Romance descendants.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of relief from miseries.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of medicine that brings relief.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of a wife's comfort and relief from tribute.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A means of relief, alleviation, [[m|en|mitigation]], [[m|en|solace]], comfort.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The giving of relief, easing, lessening.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[levō]]

+ * [[levāmen]]

+ * [[levis]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate ''lēvāmentum'', from ''lēvō'' "to make smooth", is a means of getting a smooth surface: a fragment of Varro uses it of a mason's board for levelling stones.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}