falcatus Latin · revision 33291

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=70–19 BC, Virgil|origins=la falx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [faɫˈkaː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [falˈkaː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''falcātus''' (feminine falcāta, neuter falcātum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|falx|-ātus|t1=sickle]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) The origin of [[m|la|falx]] is unclear: de Vaan finds a comparison with [[sga|delg|t=thorn, pin]] and [[non|dálkr|t=pin, dagger]] acceptable in meaning but not in form, so that at most it is a borrowing from a non-Latin Indo-European language of Italy;^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) Ernout and Meillet suspected a loanword.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Virgil and the ''Bellum Alexandrinum'';^(Köbler 2010) Virgil has curved swords for close fighting, ''falcati comminus enses''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means furnished with curved blades, especially of scythed chariots, in the ''Bellum Alexandrinum'', Livy and Curtius;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Livy also has beams fitted with hooks that swept the battlements.^(OLD 2012) It also means curved like a sickle or pruning hook:^(OLD 2012) Ovid uses it of a curved sword, as the one with which Perseus wounds the sea monster,^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Servius explains Virgil's curved sword as the ''harpē'' of Perseus.^(TLL) Ovid also has a sickle-shaped tail, and Pliny the Elder too uses it of a tail.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) English [[m|en|falcate]] (1801), “curved like a sickle”, is from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil, of curved swords.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of scythed chariots and hooked beams.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid, of a curved sword and a sickle-shaped tail.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1801 – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|falcate]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Furnished with curved blades; of chariots, [[m|en|scythed]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Curved like a [[m|en|sickle]], hooked, [[m|en|falcate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[falx]]

+ * [[falcārius]]

+ * [[en|falcate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}