versicolor Latin · revision 36194

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la vertō, la color}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [wɛrˈsɪ.kɔ.ɫɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [verˈsiː.ko.lor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''versicolor''' (genitive versicolōris); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The ablative singular is ⟨versicolōrī⟩ or ⟨versicolōre⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Late collateral forms are ⟨versicolōrus⟩ and ⟨versicolōrius⟩.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|versō|color|t1=to turn|t2=colour]].^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD takes its first part from the participle of [[m|la|vertō|t=to turn]].^(OLD 2012) De Vaan traces [[m|la|color]] to [[itc-pro|*kelōs-|t=outside, aspect]] and [[ine-pro|*ḱel-ōs|t=covering]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who in ''De finibus'' speaks of the changing colours of a dove's feathers, ''plumae versicolores''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OLD defines it as having colours that change with time or with the angle of view, though in some places it may simply mean variegated.^(OLD 2012) Livy uses it of parti-coloured garments,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Virgil of painted arms in the ''Aeneid'', Ovid of the dress of Flora, and Columella of fruit.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Tertullian calls the peacock many-coloured, varied and changing,^(Georges 1913) and Quintilian applies it to a style of speaking full of glitter.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In the ''Digest'' the neuter plural means dyed woollens, which the old jurists did not count as wool,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Pliny the Elder uses it of coloured sails.^(Lewis & Short 1879) British medieval writers kept it for many-coloured, as Aldhelm does in his riddles.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a dove's iridescent feathers.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of painted arms.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of parti-coloured garments.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a showy style.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it in his riddles.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of changing colour, [[m|en|iridescent]]; of various colours, [[m|en|variegated]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # (of style) Showy, full of glitter.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # (neuter plural) Dyed or coloured [[m|en|woollens]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[multicolor]]

+ * [[discolor]]

+ * [[varius]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}