dispendium Latin · revision 35707

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la pendō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dispendium''' ''n'' (genitive dispendiī or dispendī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dispendō|-ium|t1=to weigh out, distribute]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) the opposite of [[compendium]] “saving”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Varro explained the word by the loss that happens in weighing out,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) and Festus connected it with [[dispēnsātor]] “steward”.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first example of the sense “expense, cost” is from Plautus' ''Menaechmi'': ''minōre nusquam bene fuī dispendiō'', “nowhere have I dined well at less cost”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis and Short note that it is mostly found before and after the Classical period.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Besides expense it meant the loss a transaction causes: Ennius says the earth takes back the body it gave and loses not a whit (''neque dispendī facit hīlum''), and Terence pairs it with ''sūmptus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) Columella speaks of a great loss to the owner, and Ovid of the loss of hair.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Poets extended it to time and distance: Virgil's ''morae dispendia'' are the losses of delay, Manilius and Lucan use it of a detour, and Martial of long roundabout journeys.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Apuleius uses the plural for the waning of the moon.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) In the Church it meant expense,^(Stelten 1995) and medieval Latin used it for loss and for expenditure;^(Niermeyer 1976) British writers spoke of the loss of chastity, of peace or of souls.^(DMLBS) It survives in [[it|dispendio]].^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the cost of a dinner.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of the loss caused by delay.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Manilius uses it of a detour.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of the waning moon.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|expense|alt=Expense]], [[m|en|cost]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|loss|alt=Loss]], detriment;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) ''(plural)'' the waning (of the moon).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # A loss of time or distance; a [[m|en|detour]], a roundabout way.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dispendiōsus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Morae dispendia'', “losses of delay”, comes from the ''Aeneid'' (3.453).^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) Lewis and Short list ''impēnsa'', ''impendium'' and ''sūmptus'' as near-synonyms for expense, and ''damnum'', ''dētrīmentum'' and ''iactūra'' for loss.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}