latrunculus Latin · revision 35846

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la latrō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɫaˈtrʊŋ.kʊ.ɫʊs], [ɫatˈrʊŋ.kʊ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [laˈtruŋ.ku.lus], [latˈruŋ.ku.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''latrunculus''' ''m'' (genitive latrunculī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|latrō#2|-culus|t1=robber]], a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found first in Cicero, who speaks scornfully of a campaign against sheepskin-clad brigands in Sardinia.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word usually named a robber or bandit, often with contempt:^(OLD 2012) Livy has Thracian brigands, and the jurists distinguish ''hostes'', on whom the Roman people has declared war, from mere ''latrunculi'' and ''praedones''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ It was also the name of a piece in a board game of war played on a board of squares, usually eight by eight:^(OLD 2012) Varro and Seneca speak of playing with ''latrunculi'', and Pliny the Elder reports a claim that apes had played the game.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) The word was later applied to pieces in other games such as chess and draughts.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In the Vulgate it means a hired soldier,^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) and medieval Latin used it for a mercenary, a highwayman, a thief and a usurper.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of brigands in Sardinia.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the pieces in a board game.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy speaks of Thracian brigands.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 223 AD – Ulpian contrasts ''latrunculi'' with enemies in war.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it for a hired soldier.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|robber]], [[m|en|brigand]], bandit, usually said with contempt.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A piece in a board game of war, played on a board of squares.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A hired soldier, [[m|en|mercenary]].^(Georges 1913)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A thief; a [[m|en|usurper]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[latrunculārius]]

+ * [[latrunculator]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[latrō#2]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}