buxus Latin · revision 3822

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=Ennius|origins=grc πύξος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''buxus''' ''f'' (genitive buxī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|πύξος|tr=púxos|t=box tree]].^(Saalfeld 1874)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Wiktionary doubts that Greek was the source, since the tree grew in Italy and is not native to Greece, and suggests both words may come from a substrate language of Italy.^(Wiktionary) A neuter form [[m|la|buxum]] is also found.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Ennius onwards.^(Köbler 2010) Ennius has “cypresses stand with straight leaves, and box with its bitter wood”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the box tree, as Ovid's “box ever green”, and boxwood, noted for its pale colour, as Virgil's ivory set in box.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also meant things made of boxwood: a spinning top in Virgil and Persius, a writing tablet, and a flute.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ Isidore says it is a Greek word partly corrupted by the Latins, and that its light wood suited writing.^(Isidore) English ''box'', the tree, comes from it in Old English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the box tree.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of boxwood and of a top.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid calls it ever green.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore calls it a Greek word.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # Boxwood.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # A thing made of boxwood: a [[m|en|top]], a writing tablet, a [[m|en|flute]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[buxans]]

+ * [[buxētum]]

+ * [[buxeus]]

+ * [[buxiārius]]

+ * [[buxifer]]

+ * [[buxōsus]]

+ * [[buxum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[buxis]]

+ * [[pyxis]]

+ * [[en|box]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}