scaenicus Latin · revision 33491

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=grc σκηνικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈskae̯.nɪ.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈʃɛː.ni.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scaenicus''' (feminine scaenica, neuter scaenicum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Also spelled ''scēnicus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Wiktionary takes ''scaenicus'' for a variant of ''scēnicus'', an early hypercorrect spelling of /ɛː/ as ⟨ae⟩.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|σκηνικός|tr=skēnikós|t=of the stage]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(DMLBS) VOLI gives it as derived from [[m|la|scaena|t=stage]],^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) whose spelling with ⟨ae⟩ it shares.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Terence,^(Köbler 2010) whose prologue to the ''Hecyra'' says ''scībam dubiam fortūnam esse scaenicam'', “I knew that fortune on the stage is uncertain”, and speaks of ''lūdī scaenicī''.^(Conte 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its basic sense is “of the stage”: ''lūdī scaenicī'' were theatrical shows, as opposed to races and other contests,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Varro speaks of ''poētae scaenicī'', dramatic poets,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) and Cicero of ''artificēs scaenicī'', actors.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a masculine noun it is an actor, used by Cicero, Quintilian and Suetonius,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Tacitus calls Nero ''ille scaenicus'', “that stage player”, as a reproach.^(Conte 2010)^(Georges 1913) It also took a disparaging sense, theatrical or melodramatic: Quintilian speaks of a scurrilous ''dicācitās scaenica''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ovid has ''scaenica adulteria'', adulteries shown on the stage,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) a sense that led to “feigned”: Florus calls the pretender Andriscus a stage king.^(Georges 1913)^(OLD 2012) Late Latin has a feminine noun ''scaenica'', an actress, in Ambrose and the Code of Justinian.^(Georges 1913) Medieval writers in Britain used it of theatrical shows and gestures.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence speaks of the fortune of the stage.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro has ''poētae scaenicī''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of actors.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid writes of adulteries shown on the stage.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of theatrical wit and gesture.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus calls Nero ''ille scaenicus''.^(Conte 2010)

+ * Late Latin – Ambrose has ''scaenica'', an actress.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the [[m|en|stage]], [[m|en|theatrical]], [[m|en|dramatic]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995) ''lūdī scaenicī'', theatrical shows (as opposed to the games of the circus).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Of persons, appearing on the stage.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Typical of the stage;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) (disparaging) theatrical, [[m|en|melodramatic]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Represented on the stage;^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) (figuratively) [[m|en|pretended]], [[m|en|fictitious]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|actor]], stage performer.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' (feminine ''scaenica'') An [[m|en|actress]].^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scaena]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}