menstruus Latin · revision 33653

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=ine-pro *meh₁-n-s-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmẽː.stru.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɛn.stru.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mēnstruus''' (feminine mēnstrua, neuter mēnstruum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Manuscripts also have ''mēstruus''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed on a stem ⟨*mēnstr-⟩ of [[m|la|mēnsis|t=month]], seen in [[m|la|bimēnstris|t=of two months]], with the suffix ⟨-uus⟩ as in [[m|la|annuus|t=yearly]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|mēnsis]] to [[itc-pro|*mēns-|t=month, moon]] and [[ine-pro|*meh₁-n-s-]], probably from [[ine-pro|*meh₁-|t=to measure]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[xum|menzne|t=moon]], [[sga|mí|t=month]], [[sa|मास्|tr=mā́s-|t=moon, month]] and [[grc|μήν|tr=mḗn|t=month]].^(de Vaan 2008) Priscian says that the ⟨t⟩ and ⟨r⟩ were added for euphony.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Varro,^(de Vaan 2008) who writes that the king announces the monthly festivals on the Nones of February, ''ferias menstruas''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means of or consisting of a month, as in Cicero's ''De natura deorum'', where the moon completes in a month's space the circuit the sun makes in a year;^(OLD 2012) also belonging to a particular month.^(OLD 2012) More often it is recurring every month, monthly: Varro has the monthly course of the moon, and Lucretius the moon running its monthly course through the shadows;^(OLD 2012) Cicero speaks of monthly interest, ''ūsūra mēnstrua''.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It can also mean lasting a month, or of provisions enough for a month: in the ''Pro Roscio comoedo'' Cicero contrasts the monthly notes with the permanent account books.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The neuter plural ''mēnstrua'' is the monthly sacrifices,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and the neuter [[mēnstruum]] is the menstrual discharge, from Lucretius on.^(de Vaan 2008) Church Latin keeps the sense monthly.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro, of monthly festivals.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius, of the moon's monthly course.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of monthly interest.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or consisting of a [[m|en|month]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) belonging to a particular month.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Recurring every month, [[m|en|monthly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Lasting a month;^(OLD 2012) of provisions, enough for a month.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bimenstruus]]

+ * [[intermēnstruus]]

+ * [[mēnstruō]]

+ * [[mēnstruum]]

+ * [[intermēnstruum]]

+ * [[mēnstrua]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mēnsis]]

+ * [[bimēnstris]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}