lusorius Latin · revision 36025

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=4 BC–65 AD, Seneca|origins=ine-pro *loid-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lūsōrius''' (feminine lūsōria, neuter lūsōrium); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Manuscripts also have ⟨lusur-⟩, ⟨losor-⟩, ⟨lusior-⟩ and ⟨luxur-⟩.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|lūdō|-tōrius|t1=to play]],^(OLD 2012) or formed from [[m|la|lūsor|t=player]].^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) The verb goes back to [[itc-pro|*loid-e/o-|t=to play]] and [[ine-pro|*loid-|t=to let go frequently, play]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL's earliest instance is in the record of Pompey's triumph quoted by Pliny the Elder, which lists a gaming board with dice, ''alveum cum tesseris lusorium''.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates the word from Seneca,^(Köbler 2010) who speaks of the evenness of a ball used in play, ''lusoria pila''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The TLL notes that it occurs only in prose.^(TLL) Besides gaming boards and balls, it was used of a table for games in Augustine,^(Georges 1913) and Vegetius has recruits practise with wooden bows and practice arrows, ''sagittis lusoriis''.^(TLL) As a feminine noun ''lusoriae'' were pleasure boats: Seneca names them among the playthings of kings who sport at sea;^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) in Ammianus and later writers they are light patrol vessels.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) The neuter ''lusorium'' was the arena of the amphitheatre in Lampridius and Salvian.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Figuratively it meant “done in play, not serious”: Seneca writes of a sham spectacle, of foils that must be put away when real weapons are needed, and of Jupiter using lighter, playful thunderbolts;^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Pliny the Elder has a man who died of shame when a playful question was not solved at once.^(OLD 2012) The jurists Julian and Paul use it for what has no effect, such as edicts that would be empty or threats that are void.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ In British medieval Latin it could mean “of a play, theatrical”, and the neuter a pageant or a stage; it also meant “frivolous” and “ineffectual”.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca writes of a ball used in play and of pleasure boats.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder quotes Pompey's triumph record for a gaming board.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st half of the 3rd century AD – Paul uses it of threats with no effect.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses ''naves lusoriae'' for patrol boats.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1510 – The accounts of Magdalen College record a payment for a costume tunic, ''tunicam lusoriam''.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Used in [[m|en|game|alt=games]] or for amusement.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Done in sport, not serious; [[m|en|playful]], [[m|en|frivolous]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(law)'' Without effect, [[m|en|futile]], void.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Of a play, [[m|en|theatrical]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''lūsōria'' (feminine): a [[m|en|pleasure boat]];^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) ''(Late Latin)'' a light [[m|en|patrol]] vessel.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''lūsōrium'' (neuter): ''(Late Latin)'' the [[m|en|arena]] of the amphitheatre;^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(DMLBS) ''(Medieval Latin)'' a pageant, a stage.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lūdō]]

+ * [[lūsor]]

+ * [[lūdus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}