castor Latin · revision 3820

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Cicero|origins=grc κάστωρ}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkas.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkas.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''castor''' ''m'' (genitive castoris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|κάστωρ|tr=kástōr|t=beaver]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Köbler 2010) Etymonline says the Greek may mean “he who excels” and be the same as the name of Castor.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero (81–43 BC).^(Köbler 2010) A passage of Cicero on the beaver is quoted by Isidore.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the beaver, for which the native Latin word was [[fiber]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Pliny and Juvenal use Greek accusatives ''castora'' and ''castoras''.^(Georges 1913) The same word was the name of Castor, brother of Pollux, and the plural ''Castores'' meant Castor and Pollux, and St Elmo's fire.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin a different ''castor'', from ''castrāre'', was a gelded ram.^(Köbler 2010) English ''castor'' “beaver” came from it through Old French in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder writes of the beaver.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses the accusative ''castora''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''castor'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|beaver]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Castoreus]]

+ * [[castorinatus]]

+ * [[castorinus]]

+ * [[ēcastor]]

+ * [[mēcastor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fiber]]

+ * [[en|castor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Castor'' is also the name of the son of Leda and brother of Pollux.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}