unguen Latin · revision 34745

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=ine-pro *h₃engʷen-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈʊŋ.ɡʷɛn]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈuŋ.ɡʷen]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''unguen''' ''n'' (genitive unguinis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*ongʷn̥|t=ointment]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₃engʷen-|t=fat, butter]], from the root [[ine-pro|*h₃engʷ-|t=to anoint]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan reconstructs a neuter noun with zero grade of the root in Italic and Celtic and full grade in Germanic.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD derives it from the verb [[m|la|unguō|t=to anoint]], which comes from the same root.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[xum|umen|t=ointment]], [[sga|imb|t=butter]], [[goh|ancho|t=butter]] and [[sa|अञ्जस्|tr=áñjas-|t=anointment]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan records it from Cato on.^(de Vaan 2008) In a recipe in his work on agriculture Cato writes ''in aēnum caldum unguen indito'', “put fat into a hot bronze pot”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means any soft fatty or oily substance, fat or [[m|en|grease]], and also an ointment.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Catullus has ''unguinis expers'', without grease, and Virgil wax made rich with fat, ''pinguēs unguine cērās''.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Servius speaks of ''unguen lupīnum'', wolf's fat.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ It remained in use in Medieval Latin: Bede uses it of pig fat for softening shoes, and an English coronation rite of the 11th century has the bishop pour ''sacrī unguinis oleum'', the oil of holy unction, on the queen's head.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of fat in a recipe.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it.^(Georges 1913)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil writes of wax rich with fat.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 11th century – An English coronation rite uses it of holy oil.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any soft fatty or oily substance; [[m|en|fat]], [[m|en|grease]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # An [[m|en|ointment]], [[m|en|unguent]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unguinōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[unguentum]]

+ * [[unguo]]

+ * [[en|unguent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}