lynx Latin · revision 3958

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Virgil|origins=grc λύγξ}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lynx''' ''m'' or f (genitive lyncis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|λύγξ|tr=lúnx|t=lynx]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Virgil (70–19 BC).^(Köbler 2010) Virgil has “the dappled lynxes of Bacchus”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the lynx.^(OLD 2012) Bacchus' chariot was drawn by a team of lynxes, and Virgil has “the covering of a spotted lynx”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) It is usually feminine, but masculine in Horace.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Pliny says it was thought to see more sharply than other animals.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Pliny also names a fictitious tree ''lynx'', invented to explain [[lyncurium|alt=lyncūrium]].^(OLD 2012) Through Italian [[m|it|lonza]] it gave French [[m|fr|once]] and English ''ounce'', the snow leopard.^(Wiktionary) English ''lynx'' itself was borrowed in the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of Bacchus' lynxes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it as a masculine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder writes of its sharp sight.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''lynx'' is borrowed.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # A fictitious tree said to produce lyncurium.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|lynx]]

+ * [[en|ounce]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}