praelongus Latin · revision 36927

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=59 BC–17 AD, Livy|origins=ine-pro *dlongh-o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [prae̯ˈɫɔŋ.ɡʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [preˈlɔŋ.ɡus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praelongus''' (feminine praelonga, neuter praelongum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prae-|longus|t2=long]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|longus]] to [[itc-pro|*(d)longo-]] and [[ine-pro|*dlongh-o-]], one of several variants of a word for “long” in the Indo-European languages.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[goh|lang]] and [[non|langr]], both meaning “long”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Livy,^(Köbler 2010) who contrasts the very long swords of the Gauls with the short, handy ones of the Spaniards.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Lewis and Short note that it does not occur in Cicero or Caesar.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is used of weapons: Livy also speaks of very long spears, and Tacitus of a long spear and of the very long swords that the Sarmatians wield with both hands.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Elder uses it of a tail and of slenderness,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Quintilian of a very tall man.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Of time it meant exceedingly long, as in Quintilian's very long conversations.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It has no comparative or superlative, and in the manuscripts it is sometimes confused with ''perlongus''.^(TLL)

+

+ Medieval writers still used it: Alcuin has a ship drawn by a very long towrope, and Gerald of Wales a goat with very long hair.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the swords of the Gauls.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a long tail.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a very tall man and of long conversations.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of spears and swords.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Very [[m|en|long]], exceptionally long.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Of people: very [[m|en|tall]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Of time: exceedingly long, [[m|en|prolix]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[longus]]

+ * [[perlongus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}