mysticus Latin · revision 36509

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=70–19 BC, Virgil|origins=grc μυστικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmys.tɪ.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmis.ti.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mysticus''' (feminine mystica, neuter mysticum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|μυστικός|tr=mustikós|t=connected with the mysteries]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) The Greek adjective is formed from [[m|grc|μύστης|tr=mústēs|t=initiate]],^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) which Köbler connects with [[m|grc|μυέω|tr=muéō]], to close the lips.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Virgil,^(Köbler 2010) who in the ''Georgics'' names the “mystica vannus Iacchi”, the winnowing fan of Bacchus, which had a secret meaning in his worship.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The poets used it of things belonging to secret rites:^(Lewis & Short 1879) Tibullus of the vine sacred to Bacchus, Martial of the mystic rites of Dindymene, Statius of a torch.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Ovid transferred it to secrecy in general, speaking of love affairs kept hidden.^(OLD 2012) In the plural, ''mystica'' were the objects used in the rites,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) and Pliny the Elder records ''Mysticus'' as the title of a pantomime.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ Christian writers gave it the meaning “mystical”: of hidden or symbolic meaning, to be understood figuratively.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) Niermeyer also gives “sacred”,^(Niermeyer 1976) and British writers speak of mystical baptism and of the mystical meaning of Scripture.^(DMLBS) In Ecclesiastical Latin it also served as a noun for a mystic.^(Stelten 1995) English took it over in the late 14th century as [[m|en|mystic]], from Old French or directly from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of the mystic winnowing fan of Bacchus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of secret love affairs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of the rites of Dindymene.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 390 AD – Ammianus Marcellinus speaks of a mystic word.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm writes of the mystical rite of baptism.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows it as ''mystic''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, belonging to, or used in sacred [[m|en|mystery|alt=mysteries]] or secret rites.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(transferred)'' [[m|en|secret|alt=Secret]], hidden.^(OLD 2012)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' [[m|en|mystical|alt=Mystical]], [[m|en|symbolic]], [[m|en|allegorical]]; sacred.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A [[m|en|mystic]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mystica]]

+ * [[mysticē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|mystic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}