puellula Latin · revision 36946

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''puellula''' ''f'' (genitive puellulae); first declension^(OLD 2012)

+ Some manuscripts of Gregory of Tours spell it ''puellola''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|puella|-ula|t1=girl]],^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) and that noun is a diminutive of [[m|la|puer|t=boy, child]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and the TLL date it from Terence,^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) whose ''Phormio'' tells of a young man who found a girl lyre player, ''puellulam citharistriam'', and fell madly in love with her.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The TLL finds it in verse from Terence on and in prose only from Arnobius; it was used more often with affection than to mean a small girl, and usually of a young woman.^(TLL) Catullus calls the bride of his wedding song a blooming young girl whom Hymen hands over from her mother's lap,^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Jerome uses it in his commentary on Isaiah.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Medieval British writers used it for a little girl or a maiden: William of Canterbury tells of a girl of about eight.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a girl lyre player.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of a bride.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 297–310 AD – Arnobius is the first to use it in prose.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it in his commentary on Isaiah.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|girl]] or young woman, often said with affection.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Conte 2010)

+ # A little girl.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[puella]]

+ * [[puer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}