gaesum Latin · revision 36578

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=cel-pro *gaisos}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɡae̯.sũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈd͡ʒɛː.s̬um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gaesum''' ''n'' (genitive gaesī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The spelling ''gēsum'' is also found.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Medieval texts also write ''gessum''.^(MLW)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|xtg|*gaisos]],^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) from [[cel-pro|*gaisos]].^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sga|gae|t=spear]] and [[cy|gwayw]],^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) and with [[ang|gār]] and [[goh|gēr]], also meaning “spear”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler connects it with [[ine-pro|*g̑ʰaiso-|t=stick, spear]], listed by Pokorny.^(Köbler 2010) Greek authors took the word over as [[m|grc|γαισός|tr=gaisós]] or [[m|grc|γαῖσον|tr=gaîson]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Varro is the first to use it, in a fragment of his work on the life of the Roman people quoted by Nonius,^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010) for the heavy iron throwing spear of the Gauls and the Alpine peoples.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Caesar and Virgil use it of the Gallic javelin,^(Conte 2010) and Livy of javelins in general.^(Conte 2010) Paulus' epitome of Festus defines it as a heavy javelin.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In the poets it becomes the weapon of other peoples as well: Silius Italicus gives it to Africans and Statius to Greeks.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Medieval writers used it for a spear or javelin,^(MLW)^(DMLBS) and Aldhelm figuratively for the darts of sadness that Christ's soldier wards off with his shield.^(DMLBS)^(MLW) In England it also named the gisarme, a battleaxe on a long shaft.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the javelin of the Gauls.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of Gallic javelins.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of javelins in general.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 25–101 AD – Silius Italicus gives the weapon to Africans.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it figuratively for the darts of sadness.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 12th century – An English glossary equates it with the gisarme.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A heavy Gallic [[m|en|javelin]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(poetic)'' A javelin of other peoples.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|spear]].^(MLW)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|gisarme]], a long-shafted [[m|en|battleaxe]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gaesātī]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It is mostly used in the plural, ''gaesa'', and the grammarian Charisius lists it among neuters used only in the plural.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}