libellus Latin · revision 3960

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *lubʰ-ro-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [lɪˈbɛl.lʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈbɛl.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''libellus''' ''m'' (genitive libellī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the diminutive of [[liber]] “book”, with [[m|la|-lus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''Liber'' first meant the bark of a tree; de Vaan derives it from [[itc-pro|*lufro-]], [[ine-pro|*lubʰ-ro-|t=leaf, rind]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has “I have brought you a little in this sealed document”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a small book, as Cicero's “the little book of the Twelve Tables outweighs the libraries of all philosophers” and Catullus' “charming new little book”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) It meant a notebook or register, as Cicero's two books of export accounts, a formal document or report, a public notice or placard, as in Petronius, and the programme of a show.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It also meant a petition and, from post-Augustan times, a lampoon or a written accusation, as in Juvenal and the Digest.^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976) In medieval Latin it meant an accusatory or slanderous libel and a written sentence.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''libel'' came from it through Old French around 1300, first meaning a written statement.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a small book and of account books.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus calls his poems a little book.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses it of an accusation.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A little book, [[m|en|pamphlet]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A notebook, register.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A document, report; a list.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A public notice, [[m|en|placard]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A programme (of a show).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|petition]].^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)

+ # ''(post-Augustan)'' A lampoon; a written accusation, [[m|en|libel]].^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[libellaris]]

+ * [[libellensis]]

+ * [[libelliō]]

+ * [[libellulus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[liber]]

+ * [[librāriolus]]

+ * [[librārius]]

+ * [[en|libel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}