menda Latin · revision 35844

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 180–102 BC, Lucilius|origins=itc-pro *m(e)ndo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmɛn.da]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɛn.da]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''menda''' ''f'' (genitive mendae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[der|la|mendum|t=fault, blemish]], made from its old plural, although it is attested somewhat earlier.^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan traces both to [[itc-pro|*m(e)ndo-]].^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary and Köbler derive it from [[ine-pro|*mend-|t=physical defect, fault]].^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ Cognate with [[sa|मिन्दा|tr=mindā|t=bodily defect]]^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) and [[sga|mennar|t=blemish]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan also compares [[m|sga|mind|t=sign, mark]] and [[cy|mann|t=place]], and tentatively a root [[m|ine-pro|*mn-|t=to think]], but calls these theoretical possibilities.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found first in Lucilius, meaning a fault or error: he speaks of things in which faults arise in every matter.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a fault or error, especially in writing:^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Asconius thinks a word in Cicero is more likely a copyist's mistake than a poor choice, and Suetonius warns that a usage should be taken for a habit, not a slip.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Ovid uses it of a blemish on the body: in the ''Amores'' no blemish was to be found anywhere on a body, and in the ''Ars amatoria'' night hides blemishes.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis and Short call it poetic and post-Augustan.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''menda'', a natural fault, especially of the body, from ''mendum'', a fault committed, especially in writing.^(Döderlein 1874) Ancient grammarians accepted both forms,^(TLL) and Georges treats ''menda'' as the rarer by-form of ''mendum''.^(Georges 1913) Italian has ''menda'' and ''ammenda'' from it.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of faults or errors.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of bodily blemishes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of a mistake in writing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Aulus Gellius discusses a supposed error in a text.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A bodily [[m|en|defect]], [[m|en|blemish]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A fault, [[m|en|error]], especially a mistake in writing.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mendāx]]

+ * [[mendum]]

+ * [[mendīcus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}