biremis Latin · revision 33642

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=120–67 BC, Sisenna|origins=ine-pro *h₁reh₁-(s)mo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [bɪˈreː.mɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [biˈrɛː.mis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''birēmis''' (neuter birēme); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ As a noun it is feminine, ''birēmis, birēmis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ The grammarian Diomedes says that the ancients called such ships ''birēmae'', but that ''birēmēs'' is now better.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|bi-|t=two]] and [[m|la|rēmus|t=oar]] with the adjective ending ⟨-is⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|rēmus]] to [[itc-pro|*rē(s)mo-|t=oar]] and [[ine-pro|*h₁reh₁-(s)mo-|t=oar]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|ἐρετμόν|tr=eretmón|t=oar]], [[lt|ìrklas|t=oar]] and [[ang|rōwan|t=to row]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Sisenna;^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler from Caesar.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adjective it apparently means having oars or rowers arranged in pairs;^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short render it two-oared, as of Livy's light boats and Horace's skiff.^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a noun it is most often a ship with two banks of oars, a galley,^(Lewis & Short 1879) in Cicero's Verrines, Caesar, Tacitus and Suetonius;^(Lewis & Short 1879) the OLD notes that the exact arrangement of its oars has not been determined.^(OLD 2012) Lucan uses it of a small vessel with two oars.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Elder says the Erythraeans were the first to use it.^(Lewis & Short 1879) English [[m|en|bireme]] is from it.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 120–67 BC – Sisenna.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of galleys, in the Verrines.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar, of galleys.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace, of a two-oared skiff.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having oars or rowers arranged in pairs;^(OLD 2012) two-oared;^(Lewis & Short 1879) having two banks of oars.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|bireme]], a [[m|en|galley]] with two banks of oars.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A small vessel with two oars.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rēmus]]

+ * [[trirēmis]]

+ * [[quadrirēmis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}