columella Latin · revision 33555

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=la columna}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''columella''' ''f'' (genitive columellae); first declension^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Manuscripts often spell it ''columnella''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a diminutive, [[af|la|columna|-ella|t1=column]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan lists it with [[m|la|columna]] under [[m|la|columen|t=summit, top]], from [[itc-pro|*kelamen-]] and [[ine-pro|*kelH-men-|t=top, summit]], though he finds it hard to derive [[m|la|columna]] from [[m|la|columen]] by any normal process.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Cato on,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who uses it of the iron pivot that must stand upright in the middle of an olive mill.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a small upright post or column,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and in technical writers a particular post: the pivot of an olive mill in Cato, the single pedestal of a stone table in Varro, the stanchion of a catapult and the marked pillar of a water clock in Vitruvius.^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it of small columns set up as tombstones.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Figuratively it is a prop or mainstay: Lucilius' epitaph for a slave calls him his master's ''columella''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Medieval writers use it for small columns and posts of buildings, parts of machines,^(MLW)^(DMLBS) and a column of writing on a page.^(DMLBS)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato, of the pivot of an olive mill.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius, figuratively, of a faithful slave.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of small columns on tombs.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius, of parts of a catapult and a water clock.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small [[m|en|column]], post or [[m|en|pillar]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # The pivot of an olive mill; the pedestal of a table; the stanchion of a [[m|en|catapult]]; the pillar of a water clock.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A small column set up as a [[m|en|tombstone]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A prop, support, [[m|en|mainstay]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A column of writing on a page.^(DMLBS)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[columellaris]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[columna]]

+ * [[columen]]

+ * [[culmen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Columella'' was also a cognomen in the gens Junia; it was borne by Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella of Gades, the writer on agriculture.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}