flavus Latin · revision 3501

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Ennius|origins=itc-pro *flāwo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫaː.wʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflaː.vus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''flāvus''' (feminine flāva, neuter flāvum, comparative flāvior, superlative flāvissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*flāwo-]], perhaps from [[ine-pro|*bʰleh₃-uo-|t=yellow]].^(de Vaan 2008) It is often compared with [[goh|blāo|t=blue]], [[ang|blāw|t=blue]] and [[mga|blá|t=yellow]], but de Vaan finds it hard to derive both from one form, and calls Schrijver's sound change a hazardous assumption.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Schrijver also connects it with [[flos|alt=flōs]] “flower”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ The OLD considers it probably cognate with the Germanic words and with [[en|blue]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Ennius onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who describes the sea foaming over a yellow surface.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant yellow, especially pale yellow or golden, as Lucretius' yellow honey and Virgil's golden corn.^(OLD 2012) It was used of blond hair and of fair-haired people, as Horace's golden-haired Ganymede.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Wiktionary notes that it was mostly poetic, and that from the 1st century AD it was also used of blushing skin.^(Wiktionary) Seneca speaks of a “golden” blush, and Martial calls gold coins ''flavi''.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the sea.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of honey.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of corn and hair.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses ''flavi'' of gold coins.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Yellow]], golden.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Fair-haired, [[m|en|blond]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of skin)'' Blushing.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[flāvēns]]

+ * [[flāveō]]

+ * [[flāvēscō]]

+ * [[flāvicomus]]

+ * [[flāvidus]]

+ * [[sufflāvus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flōrus]]

+ * [[flōs]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''flavus'', a bright and beautiful yellow like light auburn hair, from ''luteus'', a full yellow, and ''luridus'', a pale, unhealthy yellow.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}