pestilens Latin · revision 34044

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=la pestis}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pestilēns''' (genitive pestilentis); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|pestis|t=plague, pestilence]].^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The TLL groups it with adjectives in ⟨-lent(o)-⟩ that vary between two forms, such as ⟨violēns⟩ beside ⟨violentus⟩; some refer Laevius' plural ⟨pestilenta⟩ to a form [[m|la|pestilentus]], but it could be made from ⟨pestilēns⟩ as poets made ⟨silenta⟩ from ⟨silēns⟩.^(TLL) The OLD compares that form, and Wiktionary takes this adjective as probably a back-formation from it.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan finds no convincing etymology for [[m|la|pestis]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato,^(de Vaan 2008) who writes of building in an unhealthy place.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first said of places full of disease, unhealthy, opposed to healthy ones;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero speaks of an unhealthy house and of the heavy, pestilent exhalation of the air.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Livy calls a year pestilent for the city and a summer for animals, and Horace the south-west wind.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The declamations ascribed to Quintilian use it of the plague-stricken.^(OLD 2012) By extension it is pernicious or disastrous, of persons or things: Cicero calls a year most grievous and pestilent.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of an unhealthy place.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of pestilent air.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of the south-west wind.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Full of disease, unhealthy, [[m|en|pestilential]]; plague-stricken.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Dangerous to life or health, [[m|en|noxious]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|pernicious|alt=Pernicious]], disastrous.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pestilentia]]

+ * [[pestilentiōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pestis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}