communis Latin · revision 3641

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₂moi-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kɔmˈmuː.nɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [komˈmuː.nis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''commūnis''' (neuter commūne, comparative commūnior, adverb commūniter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|com-|munis|alt2=mūnis|t2=obliged]], literally “sharing the duties”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Old Latin had [[m|la|comoinis]].^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary) The base is [[itc-pro|*moini-|t=duty, obligation]], as in [[munus|alt=mūnus]] “duty, gift”, perhaps from [[ine-pro|*h₂moi-ni-|t=exchange]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The same compound is found in [[got|𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃|tr=gamains|t=common]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) In Plautus Jupiter tells Alcmena to look after their common affairs.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It first meant shared by two persons or parties, joint, and then shared by everyone in a group, as Cicero's “common yoke of wisdom”, belonging to the whole community, public, as Cato's “the common interest is at stake”, and universal.^(OLD 2012) From this it meant ordinary or everyday, as ''communis salutatio'', and of people affable and sociable, as in Caecilius.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ In rhetoric it was used of arguments that either side could use, and in grammar it was used of a syllable that may be long or short.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In Medieval Latin ''communis'' as a noun was a close friend or common land.^(Köbler 2010) English ''common'' came from it through Old French about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''rem communem'', “joint affairs”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato speaks of the common, public interest.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''common'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – English ''community'' comes from its derivative ''communitas''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Shared, [[m|en|joint]], belonging to two or more.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Neutral; having the qualities of both sides.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Common to all in a group, general.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(rhetoric)'' Usable by either side.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Public, of the whole community.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Universal.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Common, ordinary.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Courteous, sociable, affable.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Having both qualities (of a syllable, a verb).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[commūne]]

+ * [[commūnitās]]

+ * [[commūnitus]]

+ * [[incommunis]]

+ * [[commūnālis]]

+ * [[commūnicātiō]]

+ * [[commūnicātor]]

+ * [[commūnicātus]]

+ * [[commūnicō]]

+ * [[commūniō]]

+ * [[commūniter]]

+ * [[commūnītiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[munus]]

+ * [[en|common]]

+ * [[en|community]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}