inferius Latin · revision 34643

+ {{homograph|1|lower down}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 84–c. 25 BC, Vitruvius|origins=la īnferus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ĩːˈfɛ.ri.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [iɱˈfɛː.ri.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnferius''' (comparative adverb of [[īnfrā]])^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adverb is a comparative, [[der|la|īnfrā|t=below]],^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) with the form of the neuter of [[m|la|īnferior|t=lower]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis 1890) The positive is itself a contracted ablative feminine singular of [[m|la|īnferus|t=below, lower]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Vitruvius;^(Köbler 2010) the dictionaries cite it from Ovid on, meaning “lower down, further down”.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is used of position, “at or to a lower level”, in Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'' and of comets that move lower in Seneca's ''Natural Questions''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010) Seneca also uses it figuratively, of bringing virtue down to a lower level.^(Gaffiot 2016) Quintilian applies it to a lower pitch of the voice.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ It also refers to a later point in a text: Ovid writes ''persequar inferius'', “I shall go into it further on”, and the jurist Gaius ''sicut inferius apparebit'', “as will appear below”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of a lower position and of a later passage in a text.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of comets moving lower and, figuratively, of virtue brought down.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of the voice.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 140–180 AD – Gaius refers with it to a later part of his ''Institutes''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|lower|alt=Lower]] [[m|en|down]], to or at a lower level;^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis 1890) ''inferius quam'', lower than.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis 1890)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To a lower degree; of the voice, lower in pitch.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Later on, further on (in a narrative or text), [[m|en|below]].^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ {{homograph|2|sacrificial}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=ine-pro *bʰer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ĩːˈfɛ.ri.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [iɱˈfɛː.ri.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnferius''' (feminine īnferia, neuter īnferium); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is, apparently, [[af|la|īnferō|-ius|t1=to bring in, offer]],^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) formed like [[m|la|arferia]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) The verb is a compound of [[m|la|in-]] and [[m|la|ferō|t=to carry]],^(Wiktionary) which goes back to [[itc-pro|*ferō]] and [[ine-pro|*bʰer-|t=to carry]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Cato's ''De agri cultura'', in the phrase ''vīnum īnferium'', wine offered to the gods in a sacrifice.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Georges explains ''vīnum īnferium'' as the portion of wine dedicated to the gods before the wine itself was tasted.^(Georges 1913) The jurist Trebatius uses it as well,^(Conte 2010) and it reappears in late writers such as Arnobius and Servius.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Lewis and Short call it ante- and post-classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Georges treats the noun [[īnferiae]], offerings to the dead, as its substantivised plural.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato prescribes ''vīnum īnferium'' in offerings.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 297–310 AD – Arnobius uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 400 AD – Servius uses it in his commentary on the ''Aeneid''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Offered in a [[m|en|sacrifice]], [[m|en|sacrificial]] (of wine).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Paulus' epitome of Festus explains ''inferium'' as what was placed below the rim of the bowl in a sacrifice;^(TLL) Isidore also comments on the word.^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}