vexillarius Latin · revision 33337

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=59 BC–17 AD, Livy}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [weːk.sɪlˈlaː.ri.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [veɡ.zilˈlaː.ri.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vēxillārius''' ''m'' (genitive vēxillāriī or vēxillārī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|vēxillum|-ārius|t1=standard, banner]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Köbler and Etymonline derive [[m|la|vēxillum]] from [[m|la|vēlum|t=sail, cloth]],^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline) which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*wekslo-]], a form the diminutive still shows; its further origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Livy,^(Köbler 2010) who describes a unit of two centurions and one standard-bearer: ''duos centuriones, vexillarium unum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the bearer of a ''vēxillum'', a standard-bearer,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) as in Livy and Tacitus.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Inscriptions use it of a member of a guild who carried a banner in religious processions.^(OLD 2012) In the plural it is troops serving for a time in a special detachment, as Velleius' great number of detachment troops cut down,^(OLD 2012) and under the emperors the oldest class of veterans, who were the last called out.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Apuleius uses it by transfer for the leader of a band of robbers.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) English [[m|en|vexillary]] dates from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of a standard-bearer.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius Paterculus, of detachment troops.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus, of veterans.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius, of a robber chief.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|standard-bearer]], ensign.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A member of a guild who carried a banner in processions.^(OLD 2012)

+ # In the plural: troops of a special [[m|en|detachment]]; veterans recalled to service.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The leader of a band, a chief.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vēxillum]]

+ * [[vēlum]]

+ * [[en|vexillary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}