missilis Latin · revision 33115

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=ine-pro *m(e)ith₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmɪs.sɪ.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmis.si.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''missilis''' (neuter missile); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mittō|-ilis|t1=to send, throw]], built on the participle ⟨missus⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|mittō]] to [[itc-pro|*meit-e/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*m(e)ith₂-|t=to exchange, remove]], whose sense developed from "exchange" to "give" and "let go, send".^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Varro.^(Köbler 2010) Lewis & Short note that it is not found in Cicero or Caesar.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means that is or may be thrown or shot:^(OLD 2012) Livy has sling stones and a missile weapon, Virgil a javelin, Horace arrows,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Statius a spear that only one man can throw;^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Elder uses it of the porcupine's quills, which it can shoot out.^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a neuter noun ''missile'' is a missile weapon, a javelin: Livy says the Spartans fought with missiles, and Virgil has warriors attacking and driving off with them.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The plural ''missilia'' or ''rēs missilēs'' were gifts the emperors threw among the people: Suetonius tells of gifts of every kind scattered for Nero's people and of Augustus allowing the scramble for fruit and food.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca uses it figuratively of the gifts Fortune scatters.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro, its first use.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of a javelin.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of sling stones and missiles.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius of gifts thrown to the people.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # That is or may be thrown or shot, [[m|en|missile]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(neuter)'' A missile weapon, [[m|en|javelin]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(neuter plural)'' Gifts thrown among the people by the emperors.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mittō]]

+ * [[tēlum]]

+ * [[en|missile]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}