cursus Latin · revision 3813

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ḱers-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkʊr.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkur.sus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cursus''' ''m'' (genitive cursūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|currō|-tus|t1=to run]], an action noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''Currō'' is [[m|itc-pro|*korse/o-|t=to run]], from [[ine-pro|*krs-e/o-|t=to run]].^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan says the participle ''cursus'' replaced an older *kostus, and the nouns in [[m|la|curs-]] were built on it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has young men exercising “by running, wrestling and the spear”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant running, a charge in battle, onward motion, speed, and a journey or voyage, as Cicero's sea voyages cut off by winter.^(OLD 2012) It meant a path or course, the orbit of a heavenly body, the direction taken, and progress or development.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It meant a person's career, especially towards higher office, as in Cicero, and a series or run, as the rhythm of words.^(OLD 2012) Isidore derived it from the speed of the legs (''crura'').^(Isidore) In medieval Latin it meant a raid, a watercourse, the currency of a coin and the order of the liturgical office.^(Niermeyer 1976) In music theory it meant the progression of a melody.^(LmL) English ''course'' came from it through Old French around 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of running.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of great speed.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of voyages and of careers.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains it.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''course'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Running; a [[m|en|race]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(military)'' A [[m|en|charge]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Onward motion; speed.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A journey, [[m|en|voyage]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A course, path; an [[m|en|orbit]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Direction; progress, development.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|career]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A series, succession.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A raid; a watercourse; the currency of coin; the order of the [[m|en|office]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cursuālis]]

+ * [[cursārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[currāx]]

+ * [[curriculum]]

+ * [[currīlis]]

+ * [[currō]]

+ * [[currūlis]]

+ * [[currus]]

+ * [[cursātiō]]

+ * [[cursilitās]]

+ * [[cursim]]

+ * [[cursiō]]

+ * [[en|course]]

+ * [[en|cursus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}