circus Latin · revision 3324

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=Plautus|origins=grc κρίκος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɪr.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃir.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''circus''' ''m'' (genitive circī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[bor|grc|κρίκος|tr=kríkos|t=ring]], also found as [[m|grc|κίρκος|tr=kírkos]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Ernout and Meillet's explanation as a partly reduplicated *ki-kr-o-, like [[curvus]], de Vaan calls speculative.^(de Vaan 2008) The old accusative of the word survives as [[circum]] “around”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) whose slave, told to fly, answers that this is how the ostrich runs through the Circus.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a [[m|en|circle]] or zone in the sky, as in Cicero's ''Aratea'', and ''circus lacteus'' was the Milky Way.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) It was the oval arena for chariot races, as in Virgil's games, and at Rome above all the Circus Maximus, laid out, Livy says, by Tarquin.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It also stood for the spectators in the circus.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it for a ring or a circle of people,^(DMLBS) and music theory for a melody that turns back to its starting note.^(LmL) It survives as Romanian ''cerc'' “circle” and Spanish and Portuguese ''cerco'', while Italian ''circo'' and French ''cirque'' are borrowings.^(Wiktionary) English ''circus'' is first recorded in the late 14th century, of the Roman racecourses.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus mentions the Circus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for a circle in the sky.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it for the arena of the games.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy tells how the Circus Maximus was laid out.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|circle]]; a zone (in the sky).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A racecourse, arena (for games).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The Circus Maximus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # The spectators in the circus.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A ring; a circle (of people).^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[circellus]]

+ * [[circēnsis]]

+ * [[circes]]

+ * [[circiter]]

+ * [[circō]]

+ * [[circulus]]

+ * [[circum]]

+ * [[idcircō]]

+ * [[circā]]

+ * [[circinus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|circus]]

+ * [[en|circle]]

+ * [[en|circuit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}