baro Latin · revision 36474

+ {{homograph|1|blockhead}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 180–102 BC, Lucilius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈbaː.roː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈbaː.ro]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bārō''' ''m'' (genitive bārōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The blockhead is [[bor|ett|*paru]] according to Köbler,^(Köbler 2010) and the OLD too labels it Etruscan.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary calls the origin unknown but probably a loan, and compares [[m|la|bardus|t=stupid]],^(Wiktionary) an adjective with which Lewis and Short also connect it.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Georges records the spellings ⟨varo⟩ and ⟨varro⟩ beside it.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lucilius is the first to use it, pairing ''barōnēs'' with ''rūsticī'', louts with country bumpkins.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis and Short count it four times in Cicero and find it rare elsewhere.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In ''De finibus'' Cicero writes ''nōs barōnēs stupēmus'', “we blockheads are dumbfounded”, while the other speaker laughs to himself.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Persius and Petronius use it as well,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Festus glosses the form ''vāro''.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius pairs louts with rustics.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it four times, in his philosophical works and letters.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 34–62 AD – Persius uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|blockhead]], [[m|en|lout]], simpleton.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ {{homograph|2|man; baron}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=6th century, Lex Salica|origins=gmw-pro *barō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈba.roː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈbaː.ro]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''barō''' ''m'' (genitive barōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The word for a man, later a baron, is [[bor|gmw-pro|*barō]],^(Wiktionary) and Niermeyer, Köbler and the MLW also give it a Germanic origin, Köbler from [[m|gem-pro|*baraz|t=man]];^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)^(MLW) a Celtic origin has also been proposed.^(Wiktionary) Isidore of Seville took ⟨barones⟩ for a Greek name given to hired men because they were strong in labour, since ⟨barus⟩ meant heavy and so strong.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It appears in the Frankish law codes: the Lex Salica deals with anyone who bars a freeborn man from his road, calling that man a ''barō''.^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the oldest uses it simply means a man, as in the Lex Ribuaria, which speaks of taking a king's man or woman from the king's protection.^(MLW)^(Niermeyer 1976) Glossaries render it with [[m|grc|ἀνήρ|tr=anḗr|t=man]] and with ''mercennārius'', a hired man,^(CGL) and Isidore uses it of mercenaries.^(Isidore)^(Georges 1913) Niermeyer lists the senses serf and freeman beside it.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ In feudal use it became a vassal, especially one of the higher nobility, and a baron;^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW) in the plural ''barōnēs'' were the great men of a kingdom or country, or the leading citizens of a town.^(Niermeyer 1976) It could also mean a lord or a famous man.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th century – The Lex Salica uses it of a freeborn man.^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville applies ''barōnēs'' to mercenaries.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – It comes to mean a vassal and a baron, and in the plural the great men of a realm.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A [[m|en|man]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A [[m|en|mercenary]].^(Georges 1913)^(Isidore)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|serf]]; a freeman.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|vassal]], especially one of the higher nobility; a [[m|en|baron]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, plural)'' The great men of a realm or country; the leading citizens of a town.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A lord; a famous man.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[combarō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bardus]]

+ * [[en|baron]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The MLW has a doubtful second medieval ''barō'' meaning slave,^(MLW) and the DMLBS records a ''barō'' “slave” in Aldhelm, which it tentatively connects with the classical word for a lout.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}