navus Latin · revision 36306

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=ine-pro *ǵneh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈnaː.wʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈnaː.vus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nāvus''' (feminine nāva, neuter nāvum, comparative nāvior, superlative nāvissimus, adverb nāviter); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The older spelling ''gnāvus'' is also found.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*gnāwo-]], from [[ine-pro|*ǵn(e)h₃-uo-|t=knowing]],^(de Vaan 2008) a derivative of [[m|ine-pro|*ǵneh₃-|t=to know]].^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) This requires a change of ⟨*-ōw-⟩ to ⟨*-āw-⟩, or a form with the zero grade of the root; it is also possible that the Italic adjective was made on the model of [[m|la|gnārus|t=knowing]].^(de Vaan 2008) The meaning would have passed from “knowing” to “experienced” and then to “busy”, an ordinary development.^(de Vaan 2008) Ancient grammarians, in Festus, derived it from the speed of ships, [[m|la|nāvis|t=ship]].^(TLL)

+

+ Cognate with [[ga|gnó|t=business]], [[cy|go-gnaw|t=active, persistent]] and [[mga|gnou|t=excellent]]; [[non|knár|t=hardy, vigorous]] may also belong here.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has only the adverb ''nāvē'';^(de Vaan 2008) the adjective is first found in Ennius' ''Annals'': ''nāvus repertus homō'', “a man found to be [[m|en|diligent]]”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It always kept the sense of busy, energetic diligence, of people and, in Velleius Paterculus and later, of the work they do.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its negative [[īgnāvus]] “lazy, idle” is found from Plautus on, and the noun ''īgnāvia'' “idleness” from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008) Ecclesiastical Latin keeps the adjective and its adverb ''nāviter''.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the adverb ''nāvē''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses the adjective of a diligent man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius Paterculus uses it of work done with energy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|diligent|alt=Diligent]], [[m|en|industrious]], active, busy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Of actions: done with diligence, assiduous.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[īgnāvus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gnārus]]

+ * [[nōscō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}