muttio Latin · revision 34342

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation, onomatopoeia|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *mū̆-to-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmʊt.ti.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmut.ti.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''muttiō''' (present infinitive muttīre, perfect active muttīvī); fourth conjugation, no passive, no supine stem^(Wiktionary)

+ The spelling ''mūtiō'' is also found.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mūtus|-iō|t1=dumb, speechless]], with an expressive doubling of the ⟨t⟩, according to de Vaan, who takes [[m|la|mūtus]] as “one who can say nothing but mū”, so that the verb covers both “to say mu” and “to be dumb”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD and the TLL call it onomatopoeic and compare [[m|la|mū]] and [[m|la|mutmut]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) The adjective goes back to [[itc-pro|*mūto-]] and [[ine-pro|*mū̆-to-]]; de Vaan finds the root [[m|ine-pro|*mū̆]] with various extensions in the Indo-European languages, and in Latin also in [[m|la|mūgiō|t=to low]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|मूक|tr=mū́ka-|t=dumb]] and [[grc|μυκός|alt=μῡκός|tr=mūkós]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on,^(de Vaan 2008) meaning to mutter or make the least sound: ''etiam muttis?'' “are you still muttering?”^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early Latin it is used mostly in threats and negations: Plautus has ''impinge pugnum, si muttiverit'', “punch him if he mutters”,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) and Terence ''nihil iam mutire audeo'', “I don't dare make a sound now”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) A line of Ennius quoted by Festus says ''palam muttire plebeio piaculum est'', “for a plebeian it is a crime to mutter openly”, and Festus explains the verb as “to speak”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Plautus also uses it of a creaking door hinge (''num muttit cardo?''),^(Lewis & Short 1879) Petronius has ''nec muttis'', “and you don't say a word”,^(Georges 1913) and the Vulgate uses it of a dog growling (''non muttiet canis'').^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of people muttering and of a creaking hinge.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius writes ''palam muttire plebeio piaculum est''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it in ''nihil iam mutire audeo''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius uses it of keeping silent.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of a dog growling.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|mutter]], [[m|en|murmur]]; to make the least sound (mostly with a negative).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Of a hinge, to [[m|en|creak]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Of animals, to [[m|en|growl]] or bleat.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[demuttio]]

+ * [[muttītiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mūtus]]

+ * [[mūgiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}