phalanx Latin · revision 3923
15 Oct 2026, 20:38 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Caesar|origins=grc φάλαγξ}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpʰa.ɫaŋks]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfaː.laŋks]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''phalanx''' ''f'' (genitive phalangis or phalangos); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|grc|φάλαγξ|tr=phálanx|t=line of battle]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) A later spelling is [[m|la|falanx]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's first source is Caesar (c. 50 BC).^(Köbler 2010) Caesar uses it of the close formation of the Gauls and Germans.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a body of infantry armed with long pikes in battle order, especially the Macedonian phalanx, as in Nepos, Curtius and Livy.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In poetry it meant any close-packed host, as Virgil's phalanxes of Agamemnon and of the Etruscans.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)
+
+ In medieval Latin it also meant a retinue or a retainer.^(Köbler 2010) English ''phalanx'' was borrowed in the 1550s, and ''phalange'' earlier through Old French.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the Gauls' formation.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of Agamemnon's hosts.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 100–24 BC – Nepos uses it of Greek and Macedonian phalanxes.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-15th century – English ''phalange'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1550s – English ''phalanx'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|phalanx]], especially the Macedonian.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(poetic)'' A host in close order, a [[m|en|battalion]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|retinue]].^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[phalangārius]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[en|phalanx]]
+ * [[en|phalange]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}