fraxinus Latin · revision 34296

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=ine-pro *bhrHǵ-s-e/ino-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈfraːk.sɪ.nʊs], [ˈfrak.sɪ.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈfrak.si.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''frā̆xinus''' ''f'' (genitive frā̆xinī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*frakse/ino-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*bhrHǵ-s-e/ino-]], formed with the suffix ⟨*-eno-⟩ or ⟨*-ino-⟩, as are [[m|la|alnus]], [[m|la|farnus]] and [[m|la|quernus]].^(de Vaan 2008) All the etymologies proposed take it as a cognate of the Indo-European word for the birch; de Vaan follows Schrijver, who supposes that the root noun [[m|ine-pro|*bherHǵ-]] “birch” came to mean the ash and took on the s-stem of the old word for the ash, [[m|ine-pro|*Heh3-s-]], seen in Latin [[m|la|ornus]].^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD calls the origin doubtful, comparing the Sanskrit word for the birch,^(OLD 2012) and the TLL calls it uncertain.^(TLL) Whether the ⟨a⟩ was long or short is not known, though Schrijver argues for a short vowel.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[sa|भूर्ज|tr=bhūrjá-|t=kind of birch]], [[lt|béržas]], [[ru|берёза|tr=berëza]], [[non|bjǫrk]] and [[goh|birihha|t=birch]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler find it first in Ennius,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Annales'' have ''exciditur ilex, fraxinus frangitur'', “the holm oak is cut down, the ash is broken”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the ash tree and its wood:^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Virgil calls it ''fraxinus in silvis pulcherrima'', “the ash, the fairest in the woods”, and Horace and Ovid use it as well.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Since spears were made of ash, poets used it for a spear or javelin, first Accius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ The adjective ''fraxinus'', “of ash wood”, formed from the noun on the model of [[m|la|fāginus]], is a rare poetic word for the usual [[frāxineus]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Ovid has ''fraxina virga'', “a rod of ash”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius writes of an ash being broken.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of an ash spear.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil calls it the fairest tree in the woods.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid has the adjective ''fraxinus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes the tree.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|ash]] tree; its wood.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(poetic)'' A [[m|en|spear]] or [[m|en|javelin]] of ash.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(poetic)'' Of ash wood, [[m|en|ashen]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[frāxineus]]

+ * [[frā̆xinētum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[farnus]]

+ * [[ornus]]

+ * [[alnus]]

+ * [[en|birch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}