augustus Latin · revision 3823

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *h₂eug-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [au̯ˈɡʊs.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [au̯ˈɡus.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''augustus''' (feminine augusta, neuter augustum, comparative augustior, superlative augustissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a derivative of [[augeo|alt=augeō]] “to increase”, built with *-to- on an s-stem noun *aug-os “increase”, also seen in [[augur]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary gives Proto-Italic [[m|itc-pro|*augostos|t=amplified, increased]].^(Wiktionary) The verb is from [[ine-pro|*h₂eug-|t=to grow]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Ennius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) Ennius has the phrase “by august augury”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It belonged first to the language of religion, solemn and venerable, as Cicero's “august place” and “august mysteries”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of persons it meant worthy of honour, and of appearance majestic, as Virgil's majestic walls of the king and Livy's most august robes.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It became the title of Octavius Caesar after he took supreme power, and then of all the emperors.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Isidore says the name was given because they enlarged (''augerent'') the state.^(Isidore) The month Sextilis was renamed ''mensis Augustus'' after him, and the Romance words for August continue it.^(OLD 2012)^(DÉRom) English ''august'' “venerable” was borrowed in the 1660s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of holy places and mysteries.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of majestic walls.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid dates the title Augustus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1660s – English ''august'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(religion)'' Solemn, [[m|en|venerable]], holy.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Worthy of honour, [[m|en|august]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|Majestic]], dignified.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(capitalized)'' Of the emperor, imperial, ''mensis Augustus'', the month of August.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(capitalized)'' Augustus, title of Octavius Caesar and the emperors after him.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[augustō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Augusta]]

+ * [[augustālis]]

+ * [[augustēum]]

+ * [[augustēus]]

+ * [[augeo]]

+ * [[en|august]]

+ * [[en|August]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis & Short note that Cicero mostly pairs it with ''sanctus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}