nodus Latin · revision 3493

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Livius Andronicus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnoː.dʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔː.dus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nōdus''' ''m'' (genitive nōdī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan gives possible pre-forms [[ine-pro|*nōdo-]] or [[m|ine-pro|*neh₃do-|t=knot]], related to [[non|nót|t=net]], but considers a loanword just as possible, and compares [[nassa]] “fish-trap”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Köbler and Etymonline derive it from [[ine-pro|*ned-|t=to bind, tie]],^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline) and another view takes it from *gned- “to bind”, making it cognate with [[en|knot]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Livius Andronicus onwards.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It first meant a knot tied in a cord.^(OLD 2012) It was also used of ropes and fetters, of hair tied in a knot, of a girdle, and of the coils of a snake, as in Virgil and Horace.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it meant a knotty problem, as Cicero's “the great knot in the state is lack of money”, and a bond or tie.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It meant a knot or node in wood or in the stem of a plant, and the proverb ''nodum in scirpo quaerere'', “to look for a knot in a bulrush”, meant to look for difficulties where there were none.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In astronomy it was a point where the ecliptic crosses the equator.^(OLD 2012) Proto-Romance *ˈnodu gave Romanian ''nod'', Italian ''nodo'', Spanish ''nudo'' and Portuguese ''nó''.^(DÉRom)^(Wiktionary) English borrowed ''node'' in the early 15th century, first for a lump in the flesh, and ''noose'' perhaps comes from it through Old French or Provençal.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 280/260 – before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a difficulty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of knots, fetters and snake coils.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''node'' is borrowed from it.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – English ''node'' is used of a point of intersection in astronomy.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|knot]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A rope, fetter, girdle.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A knot of hair.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A coil (of a snake).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A difficulty, [[m|en|crux]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A bond, tie; an obligation.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' A point of intersection, [[m|en|node]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A knot in wood, a node in a stem.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' A knotted fishing net.^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ēnōdis]]

+ * [[nōdō]]

+ * [[nōdōsus]]

+ * [[nōdulus]]

+ * [[renodis]]

+ * [[trinōdis]]

+ * [[centinodius]]

+ * [[crēbrinōdus]]

+ * [[multinōdus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[internōdium]]

+ * [[nōdōsē]]

+ * [[nōdōsitās]]

+ * [[nexus]]

+ * [[nassa]]

+ * [[en|node]]

+ * [[en|noose]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}