virgeus Latin · revision 36359

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=la virga}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''virgeus''' (feminine virgea, neuter virgeum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|virga|-eus|t1=twig, rod]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan finds the origin of the noun uncertain: it may go back to [[itc-pro|*wizg-]] and [[ine-pro|*uis-g-]], a root seen in other words for sticks and bundles, but only the Germanic forms such as [[non|visk|t=wisp]] and [[goh|wisc|t=wisp]] are close enough to make the link likely.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato,^(de Vaan 2008) whose farming manual speaks of brooms made of twigs;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler lists Plautus among its first sources.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It describes things made of twigs, rods or brushwood.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Virgil uses it of wicker gear in the ''Georgics'' and of a fire of brushwood in the ''Aeneid'';^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Columella of hurdles and hedges, and Pliny the Elder of rings made of myrtle twigs.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Calpurnius Siculus uses the neuter plural as a noun, twigs.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of brooms made of twigs.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of wicker gear and of a brushwood fire.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of hurdles and hedges.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of rings of myrtle twigs.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made of [[m|en|twig|alt=twigs]] or rods; of [[m|en|wicker]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Of [[m|en|brushwood]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(neuter plural as noun)'' Twigs.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}