pauxillus Latin · revision 36594

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *peh₂u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [pau̯kˈsɪl.lʊs]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pauxillus''' (feminine pauxilla, neuter pauxillum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Manuscripts and editions also spell it ''pausillus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|paucus|t=few, little]], a diminutive,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) though Georges takes it as a diminutive of [[m|la|paullus|t=little]].^(Georges 1913) De Vaan lists it from Naevius on among the derivatives of the first adjective, which he traces to [[itc-pro|*pauko-|t=few]] and [[ine-pro|*peh₂u-]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ How it was formed is disputed.^(de Vaan 2008) Walde and Hofmann derive ⟨paullus⟩ from [[m|itc-pro|*pauk-slo-]] and this word from [[m|itc-pro|*paukslelo-]], comparing [[m|la|āla|t=wing]] beside [[m|la|axilla]].^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan objects that the suffix [[m|ine-pro|*-slo-]] otherwise makes only instrument nouns and only after consonant stems, and prefers Thurneysen's view that it is an analogical form made after ⟨paullus⟩, which in turn is [[m|itc-pro|*pau-re-lo-]], from [[m|la|parvus|t=small]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan finds it from Naevius on,^(de Vaan 2008) and Conte cites one of Naevius' comedies for it.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means little or small, and Lewis and Short call it mostly pre-classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Plautus uses it of a small matter, and Lucretius of tiny bones and seeds.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Solinus speaks of a small temple.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ The neuter ''pauxillum'' was used as a noun, a little: Plautus has ''ex pauxillō'', little by little, and Apuleius a sip of a drink.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) The ablative ''pauxillō'' means by a little, as in Afranius and Celsus,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) and the accusative is an adverb, a little, in Plautus and in the Vulgate.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) In the Vulgate's Genesis a speaker asks ''dā mihi pauxillum aquae ad bibendum'', “give me a little water to drink”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a small matter and has ''ex pauxillō'', little by little.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of tiny bones and seeds.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus has the ablative ''pauxillō'', by a little.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses ''pauxillum'' for a little water.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|little|alt=Little]], small, [[m|en|tiny]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''pauxillum'' (neuter, as a noun): a little, a small amount;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) ''ex pauxillō'', little by little.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''pauxillō'' (ablative): by a little.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''pauxillum'' (as an adverb): a little, slightly.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pauxillātim]]

+ * [[pauxillisper]]

+ * [[pauxillitas]]

+ * [[pauxillulus]]

+ * [[pauxillum]]

+ * [[perpauxillus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}