gemellus Latin · revision 33983

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81/79–52/50 BC, Catullus|origins=la geminus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɡɛˈmɛl.lʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [d͡ʒeˈmɛl.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gemellus''' (feminine gemella, neuter gemellum); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|geminus|-ellus|t1=twin]], a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|geminus]] to [[itc-pro|*jemno-|t=paired]] and [[ine-pro|*iemH-no-|t=paired, connected]], with ⟨g-⟩ perhaps taken from [[m|la|gignō]], and compares [[sa|यम|tr=yamá-|t=twin]] and [[sga|emon|t=twin]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL finds it from Catullus on,^(TLL) who calls on Castor and ''gemelle Castoris'', "twin of Castor".^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means twin-born, twin, mostly in poetry:^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ovid has twin offspring and twin brothers, and the Vulgate uses it too.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) As a noun it is a twin.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It also means forming a pair or double: Vitruvius has paired cylinders, Terentianus Maurus double letters, and Frontinus calls a pair of reservoirs near Rome ''Gemellī''.^(OLD 2012) Catullus uses it mockingly of two men as alike as twins, both equally diseased.^(OLD 2012) An inscription has the dative plural ''gemellābus''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of the twin of Castor.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of paired parts of a machine.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of twin offspring.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|twin|alt=Twin]], twin-born.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Forming a pair, [[m|en|double]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # As alike as twins.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A twin;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''(plural)'' the ''Gemellī'', a pair of reservoirs near Rome.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[geminus]]

+ * [[geminō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}