lacrimula Latin · revision 36915

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=la lacrima}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɫaˈkrɪ.mʊ.ɫa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [laˈkriː.mu.la]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lacrimula''' ''f'' (genitive lacrimulae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The spelling ''lacrumula'' appears in an inscription, and ''lacrimola'' in Ambrose.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|lacrima|-ula|t1=tear]], a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) The origin of [[m|la|lacrima]] is disputed.^(de Vaan 2008) Many take it as a borrowing of [[grc|δάκρυμα|tr=dákruma|t=tear]], but Hamp points out that this Greek word is recent and never became the usual one, which is [[m|grc|δάκρυον|tr=dákruon]].^(de Vaan 2008) If the word was inherited, de Vaan reconstructs [[ine-pro|*drḱ-h₂(e)ḱru-|t=eye-bitter]], and the early variant ⟨dacrima⟩ of Livius Andronicus keeps the old initial /d/.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sga|dér|t=tear]], [[sa|अश्रु|tr=áśru-|t=tear]] and [[lt|ãšara|t=tear]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first author is Terence,^(Köbler 2010) who in the ''Eunuchus'' has one false little tear, squeezed out by rubbing the eyes, quench these words: ''haec verba ūna mehercle falsa lacrimula … restinguet''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a rare word,^(Lewis & Short 1879) used mostly of feigned tears.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero says in the ''Pro Plancio'' that one could have seen not a little tear but many tears, and Catullus speaks of brides who cheat their parents' joy with false little tears.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ In British Medieval Latin it appears in Osbern of Gloucester's word list, under [[lacrima]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a false little tear.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in the ''Pro Plancio''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of brides' false tears.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 340–397 AD – Ambrose has the spelling ''lacrimola''.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A little [[m|en|tear]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A feigned tear, a [[m|en|crocodile tears|alt=crocodile tear]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lacrimābilis]]

+ * [[lacrimābundus]]

+ * [[lacrimātiō]]

+ * [[lacrimō]]

+ * [[lacrimōsē]]

+ * [[lacrimōsus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}