mendicus Latin · revision 33663

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=itc-pro *m(e)ndo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mendīcus''' (feminine mendīca, neuter mendīcum, superlative mendīcissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The superlative is ''mendīcissimus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mendum|-īcus|t1=fault, blemish]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces [[m|la|mendum]] to [[itc-pro|*m(e)ndo-]] and compares [[sga|mennar|t=blemish]] and [[hit|mant-|t=something harmful]]; a link with a root meaning “to think” he calls only a theoretical possibility.^(de Vaan 2008) Varro derived it from [[m|la|minus|t=less]], one who has less than nothing, and Isidore explained it as one who has less to live on.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) in whom someone is asked “what business have you touching us, you beggar?”, ''mendice homo''.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it from Ennius.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adjective it means in beggarly circumstances, destitute:^(OLD 2012) Cicero reports the Stoic paradox that the wise alone are rich, even if they are utterly destitute.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also means beggarly or mean, as Martial's beggarly lunches and Cicero's paltry outfit of the law courts.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a noun it is a beggar:^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) in Plautus someone would rather beat a beggar at begging, and in Terence it is a term of abuse.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Horace uses ''mendīcī'' of the begging priests of Cybele.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin has it both as needy and as a beggar.^(Stelten 1995) Seneca has the adverb ''mendīcē'', meanly.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of a beggar.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of the destitute wise man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial, of beggarly lunches.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Destitute, needy, [[m|en|indigent]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|beggarly|alt=Beggarly]], mean, paltry.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|beggar]], [[m|en|mendicant]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) as a term of abuse, a ragamuffin.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mendīcimōnium]]

+ * [[mendīcitās]]

+ * [[mendīculus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mendum]]

+ * [[mendīcō]]

+ * [[en|mendicant]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}