cancer Latin · revision 3321

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkaŋ.kɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkan̠ʲ.t͡ʃer]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cancer''' ''m'' (genitive cancrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is sometimes neuter, and Lucretius has the genitive ''canceris''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*karkro-|t=enclosure]], with the first /r/ changed to /n/ by dissimilation, so that it is related to [[carcer]] “prison”; the crab would be named for its pincers, which form a ring.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan tentatively traces it to [[ine-pro|*kr̥-kr-o-|t=circular]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Compare [[grc|καρκίνος|tr=karkínos|t=crab]], which Schrijver derives from a similar form.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) whose character “goes sideways, not forwards, as a crab does”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a [[m|en|crab]], as in Virgil's warning not to roast red crabs on the fire.^(OLD 2012) It was the constellation Cancer, which the sun enters at midsummer and which stood for summer heat and the south.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ It was also the name of several diseases, including malignant tumours and gangrene, which Cato already treats with cabbage.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Medieval Latin used it for an arch or vault and for pincers.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives as Italian ''granchio'' and Spanish ''cangrejo'', “crab”.^(Wiktionary) Old English took ''cancer'' for a spreading sore, the source also of ''canker'', and ''chancre'' came from French about 1600.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for a crab.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it for ulcers.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for the constellation.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * c. 1600 – English ''chancre'' comes from French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|crab]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The constellation Cancer; summer heat; the south.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(medicine)'' A [[m|en|cancer]], malignant tumour; an ulcer.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An arch, vault; pincers.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cancellus]]

+ * [[canceraticus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[carcer]]

+ * [[cancellī]]

+ * [[en|cancer]]

+ * [[en|canker]]

+ * [[en|chancre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A rare ''cancer'' “lattice, barrier”, apparently from ''carcer'', is the source of the diminutive [[cancelli]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}