spiritus Latin · revision 3732

15 Oct 2026, 20:10 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la spiro}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈspiː.rɪ.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspiː.ri.tus]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''spīritus''' ''m'' (genitive spīritūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[af|la|spiro|-tus|alt1=spīrō|t1=to breathe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The verb is [[itc-pro|*spīr/s-]], possibly an imitation of the sound of breathing, with no direct cognates.^(de Vaan 2008)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) whose battle scene has a mist rising “from the breath and panting” of the men.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant breathing, a single breath, and the breath itself, as in Plautus, Ennius and Cicero, and breath as the sign of life, so that to give up one's ''spiritus'' was to die.^(OLD 2012) From this it meant the soul or spirit, divine inspiration, as Cicero's poet “filled as it were with a divine breath”, and a person's disposition, especially pride or high spirits.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ It meant air in motion, a wind or breeze, as Ennius' storm, air as an element, and an exhalation or scent, as Lucretius' perfume.^(OLD 2012) In Christian Latin it was the Holy Spirit, ''Spiritus Sanctus'', and a spirit or ghost.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) English ''spirit'' came from it partly through Old French in the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of men's breath.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of breathing and of the wind.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of divine inspiration.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-13th century – English ''spirit'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Breathing, a [[m|en|breath]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Breath (of life); life.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # The soul, [[m|en|spirit]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Divine inspiration.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Essential quality, nature.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Disposition; spirit, courage; pride, [[m|en|arrogance]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Air in motion, a breeze.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Air (as an element).^(OLD 2012)
+ # An exhalation, scent.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Christian Latin)'' The Holy Spirit; a spirit, ghost.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[spīritālis]]
+ * [[spīrituālis]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[spīrābilis]]
+ * [[spīrāculum]]
+ * [[spīrāmen]]
+ * [[spīrāmentum]]
+ * [[spīrātiō]]
+ * [[spīrātus]]
+ * [[spīritālitās]]
+ * [[spīritāliter]]
+ * [[spīrituālitās]]
+ * [[spīrō]]
+ * [[en|spirit]]
+ 
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Döderlein says ''aura'' and ''spiritus'' are air in motion, while ''anima'' and ''aer'' are air as an element.^(Döderlein 1874)
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}