molliculus Latin · revision 36021

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ml̥d-u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [mɔlˈlɪ.kʊ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [molˈliː.ku.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''molliculus''' (feminine mollicula, neuter molliculum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mollis|-culus|t1=soft]], a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan derives the adjective from an older u-stem, going back to [[itc-pro|*moldu-]] and [[ine-pro|*ml̥d-u-|t=soft]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|मृदु|tr=mr̥du-|t=delicate, soft]] and [[cy|blydd|t=soft]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In the ''Casina'' someone is told to buy soft little delicacies, ''molliculas escas'', as soft as she herself is, and in the ''Poenulus'' it is a term of endearment, ''meus molliculus caseus'', “my soft little cheese”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “soft, tender” it came to mean “somewhat effeminate”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Catullus answers those who thought him unchaste because his little verses are ''molliculi''.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Ambrose writes that nothing soft and broken attains praise, Charisius quotes it of a youth speaking effeminately, and Ammianus of a man soft and sickly in appearance, but bold and brave.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) In British medieval Latin it meant “somewhat soft”, and as a noun a tender little one.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of soft food and as an endearment.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus calls his verses ''molliculi''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 340–397 AD – Ambrose uses it of what is soft and weak.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses it of a man soft in appearance.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|soft|alt=Soft]], [[m|en|tender]], [[m|en|delicate]]; also as a term of endearment.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Somewhat [[m|en|unmanly]], [[m|en|effeminate]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, as a noun)'' A tender little one.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ēmolliō]]

+ * [[mollēscō]]

+ * [[mollicellus]]

+ * [[mollicomus]]

+ * [[mollificō]]

+ * [[molliō]]

+ * [[mollis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}