muto Latin · revision 3313

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmuː.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmuː.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mūtō''' (present infinitive mūtāre, perfect active mūtāvī, supine mūtātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ Plautus has the old forms ''mutassis'' and ''mutarier''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is disputed.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Wiktionary) The OLD and the TLL derive it from a noun *moitos “exchange”, comparing [[grc|μοῖτος|tr=moîtos|t=reward, favour]], [[sa|मिथस्|tr=mitháḥ|t=mutually]] and [[got|𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=maidjan|t=to adulterate]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Wiktionary likewise traces it to [[ine-pro|*meyth₂-|t=to exchange]], the root that de Vaan sees in [[mitto|alt=mittō]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) Georges and Lewis and Short instead take it as a contraction of *movitō, a frequentative of [[moveo|alt=moveō]] “to move”.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(Köbler 2010) whose prologue says that the families living in a stage house “are always changing”.^(OLD 2012) In the ''Amphitruo'' he writes that the moon “does not move anywhere”.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to give and receive, to exchange, especially in trade, to substitute one thing for another, and to replace, as farms that often change owners.^(OLD 2012) Changing one's clothes, as in Terence and Cicero, was often a sign of mourning.^(OLD 2012) It meant to move from one place to another, to shift, as Horace's sun changing the shadows of the hills, and to [[m|en|change]] or alter something.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Used intransitively it meant to change or to differ, and it could mean to change for the worse or spoil.^(OLD 2012) It was used of changes of appearance, as Virgil's “how changed from that Hector!”, of transformation, as Circe changing Ulysses' companions, and of changes of opinion or character.^(OLD 2012) Medieval music theory used it for changing from one hexachord to another on the same note.^(LmL) It survives as Italian ''mutare'', Romanian ''muta'', French ''muer'' “to moult” and Spanish and Portuguese ''mudar''.^(Wiktionary) English ''mutation'' is from the late 14th century, and ''mutate'' from 1818.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for families changing and for the moon not moving.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it for changing clothes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for exchange and change of citizenship.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it for transformation.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''mutation'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1818 – English ''mutate'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move, shift (from a place).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To [[m|en|exchange]]; to trade, barter.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To substitute; to replace.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To change (clothes).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|change]], alter, modify.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To change; to differ.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To spoil, impair.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To transform.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To change (an opinion); to influence (a person).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, music)'' To change hexachord.^(LmL)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[commūtō]]

+ * [[dēmūtō]]

+ * [[ēmūtō]]

+ * [[immūtātus]]

+ * [[immūtō]]

+ * [[mūtābilis]]

+ * [[mūtātiō]]

+ * [[mūtātor]]

+ * [[mutatura]]

+ * [[mutatus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mūtuus]]

+ * [[en|mutation]]

+ * [[en|mutate]]

+ * [[en|commute]]

+ * [[en|mutual]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different word, ''mūtō'' or ''muttō'', ''mūtōnis'', is a vulgar word for the penis, used by Lucilius and Horace.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}