electrum Latin · revision 3798
15 Oct 2026, 20:26 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Virgil|origins=grc ἤλεκτρον}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [eːˈɫɛk.trũː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈlɛk.trum]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''ēlectrum''' ''n'' (genitive ēlectrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|grc|ἤλεκτρον|tr=ḗlektron|t=amber; pale gold]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's first source is Virgil (70–19 BC).^(Köbler 2010) Virgil has a river running to the plain “purer than amber”.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant amber, for which the native word was ''sucinum'', as in Virgil's Eclogues, Ovid and Pliny.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In the plural it meant drops or beads of amber, which Roman ladies carried to cool their hands.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)
+
+ It also meant an alloy of gold and silver, as in Virgil's Aeneid.^(OLD 2012) Pliny says it is gold with a fifth part of silver.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Isidore says it is named because it shines in the sun more brightly than gold and silver, the sun being called Elector by the poets.^(Isidore) In New Latin it was used for the electron.^(Wiktionary) William Gilbert coined ''electricus'', “like amber”, in 1600, the source of English ''electric''.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of amber and of the alloy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder gives the proportions of the alloy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains the name.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''electrum'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1600 – William Gilbert coins ''electricus'' from it.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # [[m|en|Amber]], ''(plural)'' amber beads.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # [[m|en|Electrum]], an alloy of gold and silver.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(New Latin)'' The [[m|en|electron]].^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[electrifer]]
+ * [[ēlectrinus]]
+ * [[electrus]]
+ * [[ēlectricus]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[en|electric]]
+ * [[en|electrum]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}