miscellus Latin · revision 36935

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=la minusculus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [mɪsˈkɛl.lʊs]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''miscellus''' (feminine miscella, neuter miscellum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[der|la|*minuscellus]], a diminutive of [[m|la|minusculus|t=somewhat smaller]], contracted to ⟨mīscellus⟩;^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) the meaning “mixed, miscellaneous” then came from association with [[m|la|misceō|t=to mix]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The TLL derives it from that verb through a form ⟨*misculus⟩, while reporting Leumann's derivation from ⟨*minuscellus⟩.^(TLL) De Vaan treats it under [[m|la|minor#2|t=smaller]], from [[ine-pro|*meih₁-iō̆s-|t=less]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Cato,^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) who names the ''vītis miscella'', an inferior vine, and says that such vines suit almost any ground.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Cato and Varro it is an epithet of a grape and of the vine bearing it, of inferior quality, and Cato also names a white ''vīnum miscellum'' made from it;^(OLD 2012) the exact force of the epithet is obscure.^(OLD 2012) Varro already uses it for “mixed”, of a third breed of pigeon produced from two stocks,^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Suetonius of games made up of several kinds,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Gellius of varied and confused learning.^(OLD 2012) The land surveyor Siculus Flaccus speaks of an ''aes miscellum'', a bronze tablet that recorded both the first holders of land and those who succeeded them.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Martianus Capella spells it ''miscillus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ In medieval Latin the neuter was used as a noun for a mixture^(DMLBS) and for a brawl,^(NGML) and in Britain for a book of miscellaneous contents.^(DMLBS) The TLL notes an Old French [[m|fro|meissian]] “mixed grain” from it,^(TLL) and the Italian [[m|it|miscela|t=mixture]] is traced to it.^(Wiktionary)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato names the ''vītis miscella'' and its wine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a hybrid breed of pigeon.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius writes of ''lūdī miscellī'', mixed games.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of miscellaneous learning.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''ūva miscella'', ''vītis miscella'': an inferior kind of [[m|en|grape]] and the [[m|en|vine]] that bears it;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''vīnum miscellum'', wine made from it.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of mixed breed or type, [[m|en|hybrid]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # [[m|en|assorted|alt=Assorted]], [[m|en|miscellaneous]].^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''aes miscellum'': a bronze tablet listing the original holders of land and their successors.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, as a neuter noun)'' A [[m|en|mixture]]; a [[m|en|miscellany]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[miscellāneus]]

+ * [[miscelliō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[misceō]]

+ * [[minusculus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}