crepusculum Latin · revision 34538

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus (c. 250–184 BC)|origins=itc-pro *krepos}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [krɛˈpʊs.kʊ.ɫũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [kreˈpus.ku.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''crepusculum''' ''n'' (genitive crepusculī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|*crepus|-culum]], from a lost neuter s-stem noun that also lies behind [[m|la|creper|t=dark; doubtful]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan reconstructs this noun as [[itc-pro|*krepos|t=twilight]] and, following Leumann, takes the adjective to come from its ablative, meaning “in the twilight”.^(de Vaan 2008) No known root of this shape explains the meanings, so the further origin is unknown.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Varro derived it from ⟨creperum⟩ “doubtful” and said the word had been taken from the Sabines, whence, he says, the name Crepusci at Amiternum.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) in the prologue of the ''Casina'', with the phrase ''primō crepusculō'' “at first dusk”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant twilight in general, but especially the evening dusk, as opposed to ''dīlūculum'', the morning twilight;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) L&S notes that it is poetic or post-Augustan in prose.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Ovid uses the plural ''crepuscula'' for gloom or darkness, as in the dim paths of the underworld,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) and Fulgentius has ''crepusculum sōlis'' for the dawn.^(Georges 1913) Medieval Latin used it for the dawn.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ English took ''crepuscule'' through Old French in the late 14th century, and the adjective ''crepuscular'' later.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''primō crepusculō'' “at first dusk”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro discusses the word and its Sabine origin.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses the plural for darkness.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder contrasts morning and dusk (''māne vel crepusculō'').^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows ''crepuscule'' through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – The English adjective ''crepuscular'' is first used, figuratively.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|twilight|alt=Twilight]], [[m|en|dusk]], especially the evening twilight.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(poetic, plural)'' [[m|en|darkness|alt=Darkness]], gloom.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|dawn|alt=Dawn]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[crepusculāscēns]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[creper]]

+ * [[dīlūculum]]

+ * [[en|crepuscular]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}