antesignanus Latin · revision 34428

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=la ante, la signum}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''antesignānus''' ''m'' (genitive antesignānī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|ante|signum|-ānus|t1=before|t2=standard]], “one who is before the standard”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Varro, in his Menippean satires, describes ''antesignani'' with square shields following the light-armed skirmishers.^(TLL)^(Conte 2010) Köbler's earliest source is Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a military term it first named the soldiers of the front line, who stepped in front of the standards in an attack;^(Georges 1913)^(TLL) Livy uses it often in this sense.^(Georges 1913)^(TLL) In Caesar the ''antesignani'' are lightly armed legionaries attached to each legion, a picked force, perhaps formed by Caesar himself.^(Georges 1913)^(TLL) Figuratively it is a leader or champion: Cicero tells Antony he had been an ''antesignanus'' at Pharsalus, and Apuleius uses it of a robber chief.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it is a standard-bearer or champion, and also, figuratively, a witness confirmed by a miraculous sign.^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010) Writers in Britain use it of front-line soldiers or standard-bearers.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro describes the ''antesignani'' in his satires.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it figuratively of a champion.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of picked light-armed legionaries.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the front-line soldiers.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 9th century – Odilo of Soissons uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(military, chiefly plural)'' A soldier who fought in front of the standards, one of the front line; in Caesar, a picked light-armed legionary.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A [[m|en|leader]], [[m|en|champion]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|standard-bearer]].^(MLW)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A witness confirmed by a miraculous sign.^(MLW)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[signifer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}