murreus Latin · revision 35997

+ {{homograph|1|myrrh-coloured}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=65–8 BC, Horace|origins=grc μύρρα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmʊr.re.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmur.re.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''murreus''' (feminine murrea, neuter murreum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''myrrheus'' and ''murrheus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[af|la|murra|-eus|t1=myrrh]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The noun was borrowed from [[grc|μύρρα|tr=múrrha|t=myrrh]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It appears first in Horace,^(Köbler 2010) who bids Neaera tie up her ''murreum crinem'' in a knot; the OLD takes it as hair of the colour of myrrh, a reddish brown, and perhaps also hair full of myrrh or a like perfume.^(OLD 2012) The ancient commentator Porphyrio explained the colour as between blond and black.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis & Short divide its senses into perfumed with myrrh and of the colour of myrrh, yellowish.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The ''Corpus Tibullianum'' has it of hair dripping with Syrian dew, where some manuscripts read ''myrtea'' instead.^(OLD 2012) In Prudentius the ''murrea dona'' are the gift of myrrh brought by the Magi.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of hair.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 57/46–12 BC – Propertius uses it of an onyx scent jar.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses it of the Magi's gift of myrrh.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the colour of [[m|en|myrrh]], reddish brown or yellowish.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|perfume|alt=Perfumed]] with myrrh.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' Of myrrh, consisting of myrrh.^(TLL)

+

+ {{homograph|2|of fluorspar}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=57/46–12 BC, Propertius|origins=la murra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmʊr.re.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmur.re.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''murreus''' (feminine murrea, neuter murreum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[af|la|murra|-eus|t1=murra, fluorspar]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The OLD compares that noun with [[grc|μόρρια|tr=mórria]] and takes the word to be of Asian origin.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It appears first in Propertius,^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) who lists among costly goods brought from abroad ''murrea pocula'', cups of murra “baked in Parthian fires”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It describes vessels made of murra, a highly prized mineral, probably fluorspar and perhaps also agate.^(OLD 2012) Seneca says it makes no difference whether a cup is of gold, crystal or murra,^(TLL) and a passage of the jurist Javolenus in the ''Digest'' names vessels of murra beside glassware.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 57/46–12 BC – Propertius speaks of cups of murra from Parthia.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca mentions cups of murra.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of murra, a prized [[m|en|mineral]], probably [[m|en|fluorspar]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Propertius' line on an onyx jar filled with saffron scent, the OLD takes the word as myrrh-coloured unless it means made of murra;^(OLD 2012) the TLL thinks it hardly belongs to the stone.^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}