spira Latin · revision 34138

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=grc σπεῖρα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈspiː.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈspiː.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''spīra''' ''f'' (genitive spīrae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Also spelled ''spēra'' in Manilius and Statius.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|σπεῖρα|tr=speîra|t=coil, twist, wreath]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler and Wiktionary connect it with [[ine-pro|*sper-|t=to twist, turn]].^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source is Ennius,^(Köbler 2010) who in the ''Annals'' uses it of a military unit: ''spīrās legiōnibus nexit''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its main meaning is a coil or winding: Accius writes of Pallas drawing the coils of snakes, and Virgil and Ovid use it of serpents;^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Pacuvius has coils of rope of esparto.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder uses it of coils of hair and of the grain of wood, and Lactantius of the coils of the intestines.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is the base of a column in Vitruvius,^(OLD 2012) a kind of twisted pastry in Cato,^(OLD 2012) and perhaps a band or clasp in Lucilius.^(OLD 2012) Manilius uses it of the circle of the equator.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) The OLD also records it for a sodality in some mystery cults, in an inscription.^(OLD 2012) In medieval Latin from Britain it is a coil or circle, a coiled rope or cable, and the coil of a serpent.^(DMLBS) Italian ''spira'' continues it.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a military unit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato gives a recipe for the pastry.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of coils of rope.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a snake's coils.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of the base of a column.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|coil]], fold, twist (of a snake, of rope, of hair).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # The [[m|en|base]] of a column.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # A kind of twisted [[m|en|pastry]].^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Perhaps a band or clasp.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A circular or [[m|en|spiral]] mark, a whorl; the circle of the equator.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # A military unit.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A sodality in some mystery cults.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}