virguncula Latin · revision 36742

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=4 BC–65 AD, Seneca|origins=la virgō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''virguncula''' ''f'' (genitive virgunculae); first declension^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|virgō|-cula|t1=girl, maiden]].^(OLD 2012)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan finds no accepted etymology for [[m|la|virgō]]: Walde and Hofmann took it as an individuation of [[m|la|virga|t=twig, rod]], and he rejects a later explanation as a compound “young woman”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Seneca,^(Köbler 2010) who has the little daughters of freedmen (''libertinorum virgunculae'').^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD notes that the diminutive is derogatory or stresses youth.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Curtius has a girl of low birth (''virguncula ignobilis''),^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) and Petronius a girl who throws her arms round someone's neck;^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Juvenal also uses it,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) and Frontinus puts it in apposition, ''virguncula puella'' “a young girl”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) The glossaries render it with [[grc|παρθενισκάριον|tr=partheniskárion]] and explain it as a diminutive of [[virgo|alt=virgō]].^(CGL)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it could mean a young virgin, and also a young nun.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010) Petrarch still used it in the sense “girl”.^(Ramminger)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of freedmen's daughters.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Curtius uses it of a girl of low birth.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius uses it in the ''Satyrica''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses it in the ''Satires''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 100 AD – Frontinus uses it in apposition with ''puella''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A little [[m|en|girl]], young girl; often belittling, or stressing her youth.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A young [[m|en|virgin]]; a young [[m|en|nun]].^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}