stemma Latin · revision 34775

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=4 BC–65 AD, Seneca|origins=grc στέμμα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈstɛm.ma]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈstɛm.ma]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''stemma''' ''n'' (genitive stemmatis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|στέμμα|tr=stémma|t=headband, garland]],^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) which Köbler compares with [[m|grc|στέφω|tr=stéphō|t=to put around]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Seneca,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it both of garlands on ancestral images and of a family tree.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Rome the word named a garland hung on ancestral images, as in Seneca and Pliny the Elder, and the family tree traced on a parchment decorated with such a garland.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) The OLD gives only this sense: a genealogical table, and by extension pedigree or lineage.^(OLD 2012) Suetonius, Persius, Juvenal and Martial use it so.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Martial jokes about the smoky “pedigree” of someone's old silverware, and Prudentius speaks of the great antiquity of fasting in the same way.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) In Late Latin it could mean any garland or wreath, as in Firmicus Maternus and Prudentius.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ In medieval Latin it also meant “crown” and “diadem”, “blood relative” and “wergeld”, besides the old “pedigree”.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) Stelten also gives “coat of arms”.^(Stelten 1995) The word survives in Italian [[m|it|stemma]] and English [[m|en|stemma]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of garlands on ancestral images and of a family tree.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes the garlands on ancestral portraits.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of pedigree.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus uses it of a garland.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm calls the tonsure a sign of royal and priestly ''stemma'', a crown.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 8th century – Bede uses it of royal lineage.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|genealogy|alt=genealogical]] table, [[m|en|family tree]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) (by extension) [[m|en|pedigree]], lineage.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A [[m|en|garland]] hung on ancestral images.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Great age, antiquity (of silverware, of a custom).^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A garland, [[m|en|wreath]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|crown]], [[m|en|diadem]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A blood relative.^(Niermeyer 1976)

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

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}