laena Latin · revision 35847

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=grc χλαῖνα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɫae̯.na]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈlɛː.na]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''laena''' ''f'' (genitive laenae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is often spelled ⟨lena⟩ in manuscripts.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The OLD takes it as [[bor|grc|χλαῖνα|tr=khlaîna|t=cloak]], perhaps passing through Etruscan,^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) and Köbler also refers it to the Greek word, itself a loanword of unknown origin.^(Köbler 2010) The TLL objects that no Greek ⟨χλ-⟩ is known to have become Latin ⟨l-⟩.^(TLL) Festus already reports that some thought the name Etruscan and some Greek.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Varro derived it from [[m|la|lāna|t=wool]], because it was made of much wool and was as thick as two togas.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Varro describes it in the ''De lingua Latina'' as a double garment for men, made of much wool,^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) and Cicero has a flamen who comes to an assembly wearing his ''laena'' straight from a sacrifice.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a thick woollen cloak worn over the toga or pallium.^(Georges 1913)^(OLD 2012) It was the dress of priests, especially the flamens at sacrifice,^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and was also worn by people of rank: in the ''Aeneid'' a ''laena'' blazes with Tyrian purple, and Persius and Juvenal have cloaks of hyacinth and scarlet.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) Martial uses it of a cloak for winter.^(TLL) Jerome uses it of a harlot's cloak.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ In medieval Latin it meant a blanket or quilt.^(Niermeyer 1976) The TLL records continuants in old Dalmatian, old Venetian and old Italian.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro describes it as a double woollen cloak.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero mentions the ''laena'' of a flamen at a sacrifice.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil describes a ''laena'' of Tyrian purple.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial mentions it as a winter cloak.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+ * c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it of a harlot's cloak.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thick woollen double [[m|en|cloak]] or [[m|en|mantle]], worn over the toga, especially by flamens at sacrifices.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|blanket]], quilt.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lāna]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}