daedalus Latin · revision 36841

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=grc δαίδαλος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈdae̯.da.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''daedalus''' (feminine daedala, neuter daedalum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|δαίδαλος|tr=daídalos|t=cunningly wrought]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010) Wiktionary derives it instead from the name of the mythical craftsman [[m|grc|Δαίδαλος|tr=Daídalos]].^(Wiktionary) The Greek name is related to [[m|grc|δαιδάλλω|tr=daidállō|t=to work artfully]], whose origin is disputed;^(Etymonline) Beekes considers a Pre-Greek origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ The epitome of Festus explains the word, as Lucretius uses it of the earth and Ennius of Minerva, from the variety of things and crafts, since the Greek verb means to vary.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ennius is the first to use it, calling Minerva ''daedala'', skilful.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lucretius uses it of the inventive earth that sends up flowers,^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) of nature as a craftsman, and of the tongue as an artful maker of words;^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) he also uses it passively, of skilfully made statues.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Virgil calls Circe ''daedala'', cunning.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) Lewis & Short call it poetic and post-classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it described skilfully shaped things, from Aethicus Ister on,^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010) and as a noun a gifted person or artist.^(MLW) British writers used it for skilful or crafty: John of Garland asks what woman, lying and ''dedala'', follows the truth.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius calls Minerva ''daedala''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the earth and of statues.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil calls Circe ''daedala''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 768 – Aethicus Ister uses it of artful things.^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|skilful|alt=Skilful]], [[m|en|artful]], ingenious.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Skilfully or [[m|en|intricately]] made.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Crafty, deceitful.^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, as a noun)'' A gifted person, an artist.^(MLW)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The proper name ''Daedalus'' is the mythical Athenian craftsman, builder of the labyrinth and father of Icarus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Cicero uses ''opus aliquod Daedali'', “a work of Daedalus”, of something crude and archaic.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}