descensus Latin · revision 35703

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=la scandō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deːsˈkẽː.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [deʃˈʃɛn.sus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēscēnsus''' ''m'' (genitive dēscēnsūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dēscendō|-tus|t1=to descend]], a verbal noun of the fourth declension.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL finds it from Hirtius, Sallust and Varro on.^(TLL) Köbler's first source is Varro,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it of the bull getting down from the cow after mating.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis and Short call it rare and note that Cicero and Caesar do not use it.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It meant the act of going down, as in Sallust, and a way down: Hirtius has a steep and difficult descent, Virgil the famous ''facilis dēscēnsus Avernō'', and Pliny the Elder the descent to Jupiter's cave.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) Manuscripts often spell it ''discēnsus''.^(TLL)

+

+ Later authors widened it: Ammianus uses it of the setting of stars, the commentator Porphyrio of passing to another subject, and Eucherius of a falling away from the faith.^(Conte 2010) The Vulgate speaks of the descent of the mount.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In medieval Latin it was a voyage down a river, a waterfall, and a stay or lodging owed to a traveller.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a bull getting down after mating.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of going down.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Hirtius uses it of a steep way down.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil writes ''facilis dēscēnsus Avernō''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses it of the setting of stars.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|descent]], a going down; a getting down (from a position).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A way down, a descending path.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' The setting (of a star); a passing to another subject; a falling away from the faith.^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A voyage downstream; a [[m|en|waterfall]]; a night's lodging.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Facilis dēscēnsus Avernō'', “the descent to Avernus is easy”, from the ''Aeneid'' (6.126), became proverbial.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}