enervatus Latin · revision 36680

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la ēnervis}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ēnervātus''' (feminine ēnervāta, neuter ēnervātum, comparative ēnervātior); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|ēnervō|t=to weaken, enfeeble]], its perfect participle used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014)^(Köbler 2010) The OLD equates it with [[m|la|ēnervis|t=without sinews, feeble]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who in the ''Tusculan Disputations'' calls an opinion ''ēnervāta muliebrisque'', feeble and womanish.^(Conte 2010)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it meant weak, unmanly or effeminate, of people and of speech,^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis 1890) as in Cicero's ''mollis et ēnervāta ōrātiō'';^(Georges 1913) Livy uses it of a state that had lost its strength,^(Georges 1913) and Gellius of a life without vigour.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ Late writers used it of castrated men: Claudian has it for a eunuch,^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Georges 1913) and the ''Epitome de Caesaribus'' uses ''ēnervātī'' for debauched men and eunuchs.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010) Boethius has the comparative ''ēnervātius''.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a feeble opinion and of slack speech.^(Conte 2010)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a state.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of a life.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|enervated|alt=Enervated]], weak, [[m|en|feeble]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # [[m|en|unmanly|alt=Unmanly]], [[m|en|effeminate]] (of people or speech).^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)^(Lewis 1890)

+ # ''(Late Latin, as a noun)'' A [[m|en|eunuch]];^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) ''(plural)'' debauched men and eunuchs.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}