insignitus Latin · revision 34355

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la sīgnum}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnsignītus''' (feminine īnsignīta, neuter īnsignītum, comparative īnsignītior); first and second declension^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The OLD derives it from [[m|la|īnsigne|t=distinguishing mark, badge]] with the suffix -ītus,^(OLD 2012) while Lewis and Short and Georges treat it as the participle of [[m|la|īnsigniō|t=to mark, distinguish]] used as an adjective.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|sīgnum|t=mark, sign]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*sekno-|t=statue, sign]] and [[ine-pro|*sek(h₂)-no-|t=cut]], with a shift from “what is carved out” to “sign”; he compares [[osc|segúnú|t=statues]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler record it first in Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) in a fragment about boys marked out by crooked legs, ''insignitos pueros … aut varum aut valgum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is “marked with distinctive features”, and in Ennius and Varro “wearing marks of identification”, of soldiers.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) The Rhetorica ad Herennium and Cicero use it of vivid, sharply drawn images to be held in the memory,^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) and Seneca of the peculiar sing-song of tavern hawkers.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) From Cato on it means “remarkable, signal”, often of something shameful: Cato's ''insignitas iniurias'', Livy's ''insignitior contumelia'' and ''ignominia''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Livy also uses it of a well-known story.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of boys marked by crooked legs.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato speaks of ''insignitae iniuriae'', signal wrongs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of distinct images and notions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a distinctive manner of calling out wares.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|mark|alt=Marked]] with distinctive features;^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) ''(military)'' wearing marks of identification.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Clearly defined, [[m|en|distinct]]; [[m|en|peculiar]], distinctive.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # [[m|en|remarkable|alt=Remarkable]], [[m|en|signal]], often of something shameful; well known.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Georges and Gaffiot give a second ''īnsignītus'', “furnished with a standard”, formed from [[m|la|in-]] and [[sīgnum]], for the line of Ennius ''insignita fere tum milia militum octo'';^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) the OLD puts this line under the military sense of the same word.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}