nux Latin · revision 3856

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=itc-pro *knuk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnʊks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnuks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nux''' ''f'' (genitive nucis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*knuk-]].^(de Vaan 2008) The word has cognates only in Celtic and Germanic, with different suffixes, and de Vaan, like Wiktionary, thinks it may be a loanword from a non-Indo-European language.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[sga|cnú|t=nut]], [[cy|cneuen]], [[non|hnot]] and [[ang|hnutu|t=nut]],^(de Vaan 2008) and with English [[m|en|nut]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus says that who wants the kernel from the nut breaks the nut.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a nut of any kind, hazelnut, walnut or almond, the cone of a conifer as ''nux pinea'', the capsule of a spurge in Pliny, and a nut tree.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Nuts were strewn at weddings, as in Virgil's “scatter nuts, bridegroom”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Children played with nuts, and ''nuces relinquere'' in Persius meant to give up childish things.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Georges 1913) Isidore thought the tree was named because its shade harms the trees near it (''nocere'').^(Isidore) The word lives on in Romance, as [[it|noce]] and [[fr|noix]].^(DÉRom)^(Wiktionary) English ''nucleus'' comes from its diminutive ''nucleus'' “kernel”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in a proverb about the kernel.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses ''nux'' of pine cones.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of nuts strewn at a wedding.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1704 – English ''nucleus'' is recorded, from its diminutive.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|nut]] (hazelnut, walnut, almond).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The cone of a [[m|en|conifer]] (''nux pinea'').^(OLD 2012)

+ # The capsule of a spurge.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A nut tree, an almond tree.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A thing of no value.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nucalis]]

+ * [[nucāmentum]]

+ * [[nucella]]

+ * [[nucētum]]

+ * [[nuceus]]

+ * [[nucifer]]

+ * [[nucifrangibulum]]

+ * [[nucinus]]

+ * [[nuciprūnum]]

+ * [[nucleus]]

+ * [[nucula]]

+ * [[nucāmenta]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nucleātus]]

+ * [[nucleō]]

+ * [[nucleolus]]

+ * [[nūgae]]

+ * [[en|nut]]

+ * [[en|nucleus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Nuces relinquere'', to leave one's nuts, meant to put away childish games.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}