adulterium Latin · revision 3838

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la alius}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''adulterium''' ''n'' (genitive adulteriī or adulterī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|adulter|-ium|t1=adulterer]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists [[adulter]] “clandestine lover” among the derivatives of [[alius]] “other”, as a compound of [[ad]] and [[alter]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD suggests ''adulter'' may be a back-formation from [[adultero|alt=adulterāre]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus describes a man “full of perjury and adultery”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant adultery, as in Cato's speech about catching one's wife in adultery and Cicero's man caught in the act.^(OLD 2012) Quintilian defines it as lying with another man's wife.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In Manilius and Pliny it also meant the mixing of different ingredients or the grafting of trees.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Isidore says it got its name because it defiles another's bed.^(Isidore) The Vulgate uses it of the woman taken in adultery.^(Lewis & Short 1879) English ''adultery'' came from it through Old French around 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato speaks of a wife caught in adultery.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Manilius uses it of mixing juices.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of the woman taken in adultery.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # Mixing, blending (of strains or ingredients); grafting.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[adulter]]

+ * [[en|adultery]]

+ * [[en|adulterate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}