funiculus Latin · revision 36503

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [fuːˈnɪ.kʊ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [fuˈniː.ku.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fūniculus''' ''m'' (genitive fūniculī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|fūnis|-culus|t1=rope, cord]], a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan reconstructs [[m|la|fūnis]] as [[itc-pro|*χwoini-]] and [[ine-pro|*gwhoiH-ni-|t=rope]], and since its meaning is so close to that of [[m|la|fīlum|t=thread]], he suggests it may be an o-grade derivative of the same root.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Cato,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who uses it in the ''De agricultura'' of a thin cord.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Cicero has it in the ''De inventione'', and Pliny the Elder, Quintilian and Gellius use it;^(Lewis & Short 1879) Quintilian cites it to show that [[m|la|fūnis]] is masculine.^(TLL) Pliny reports that some called a kind of old vine shoot left to grow long ''fūniculī''.^(OLD 2012) The Vulgate uses it of a measuring line, and by extension of an allotted portion, as in ''fūniculus hērēditātis'', the share of an inheritance.^(Conte 2010)^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin kept the surveyor's cord and the share of an inheritance,^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW) and used it of a belt, a tightrope and, figuratively, a bond.^(DMLBS) English [[m|en|funicular]] comes from it through [[m|en|funicle]] “small cord”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a thin cord.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in the ''De inventione''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a kind of vine shoot.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of a measuring line and of an allotted share.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1660s – English [[m|en|funicle]] is recorded, the source of [[m|en|funicular]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thin [[m|en|rope]], a [[m|en|cord]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A kind of old vine shoot left to grow long.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A measuring line; an allotted portion or lot.^(Stelten 1995)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|surveyor]]'s cord; a share of an [[m|en|inheritance]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fūnis]]

+ * [[en|funicular]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}