apex Latin · revision 33845

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=c. 180–102 BC, Lucilius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈa.pɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈaː.peks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''apex''' ''m'' (genitive apicis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan, after Ernout and Meillet, says it cannot be known whether “top of a priest's cap” or “point” is the older sense; if the first, a link with [[m|la|apiō|t=to fasten]] is plausible, and the OLD also compares that verb with a “perhaps”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) He adds that many nouns in ⟨-ex, -icis⟩ are technical terms without an Indo-European etymology, and that in theory it might come from [[ine-pro|*h₂ep(o)|t=away]].^(de Vaan 2008) Servius and Paulus' Festus already derived it from a verb meaning to join, as in [[m|la|aptus]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Lucilius,^(de Vaan 2008) who has it in a list of sacred objects with the ''ancīlia''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Servius describes the ''apex'' as the small rod on top of the flamen's cap, wound with wool,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and it came to mean the conical cap itself: the epitaph of a Scipio speaks of him wearing the apex, the badge of the flamen of Jupiter, Livy names the ''apex diālis'', and Valerius Maximus has one slipping from a priest's head.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It was also a crown or sign of kingship: Cicero mentions the story of an eagle placing it on Tarquin's head, and Horace has the crowns of kings.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Virgil uses it of the top of a helmet, a mountain peak, the top of a laurel and a tongue of flame on Iulus' head,^(OLD 2012) and it is used of a bird's crest, a spear point and the tips of a rose's stamens.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Quintilian applies it to the mark over a long vowel,^(OLD 2012) and Ulpian speaks of the fine points of law.^(OLD 2012) It also meant the highest honour or the crown of something.^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) In Medieval Latin the plural ''apicēs'' is a letter, especially one from a great person, an imperial rescript or a royal charter, and a written character.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius, of a priest's cap.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of Tarquin's crown.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil, of a helmet top, a peak and a flame.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian, of the mark of a long vowel.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1600 – English [[m|en|apex]], the tip or summit.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The rod on top of a flamen's cap; the conical cap of a priest; the priesthood.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|diadem]], crown; honour, glory.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The top of a helmet; a bird's [[m|en|crest]]; the top of the head.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The point or [[m|en|summit]] of anything: a mountain peak, the top of a tree or building, a spear point.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A point of [[m|en|flame]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A mark over a vowel showing that it is long;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''(plural)'' fine points, minutiae.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The highest point, crown (of a thing); highest rank.^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, plural)'' A letter, an imperial [[m|en|rescript]], a royal charter; a written character.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[apicātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[apiō]]

+ * [[aptus]]

+ * [[en|apex]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}