abiegnus Latin · revision 35941

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [a.biˈeːŋ.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [a.biˈɛɲ.ɲus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''abiēgnus''' (feminine abiēgna, neuter abiēgnum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Also ''abiegneus'', in Vitruvius and inscriptions.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|abiēs|-nus|t1=silver fir]], with the ending ⟨-gnus⟩ apparently modelled on [[m|la|salignus|t=of willow]] and other adjectives for woods.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) De Vaan considers [[m|la|abiēs]] probably of non-Indo-European origin; it resembles the accusative [[grc|ἄβιν|tr=ábin]] “fir” in Hesychius, which may not be Greek.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on,^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Casina'' has a lot made of fir wood;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) Ennius, quoted in the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'', uses it of ship's timbers.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant made of silver fir or deal: Accius has a fir stake, Livy a fir shaft, Columella fir sawdust and the Vulgate fir wood and planks.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Poets used it of fir as a typical wood: Catullus has fir oars sweeping the sea,^(OLD 2012) and Propertius calls the Trojan horse the horse of fir.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) In British medieval Latin it is used of doors and of timber.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus mentions a lot made of fir.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a ship's timbers.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of oars.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 57/46–12 BC – Propertius uses it of the Trojan horse.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a spear shaft.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or made of [[m|en|silver fir]], [[m|en|deal]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(poetic)'' Wooden, of fir as a typical wood.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Poets often scan it in three syllables, with consonantal ⟨i⟩.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}