abacus Latin · revision 3991

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Cato the Elder|origins=grc ἄβαξ}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈa.ba.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.ba.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''abacus''' ''m'' (genitive abacī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἄβαξ|tr=ábax|t=board, counting table]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Saalfeld 1874) Priscian also records a Latin form [[m|la|abax]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Etymonline calls the Greek word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato the Elder lists an ''abacus'' among the furnishings of a farm in his treatise on agriculture.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its basic sense is a square tablet.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The first sense is a slab-topped table or sideboard for displaying plate, as in Varro and in Cicero's speeches against Verres.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In architecture it was an ornamental panel on a wall and the slab at the top of a column, in Vitruvius.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It also meant a counting board or sand table for arithmetic and geometry, as in Persius, and a board for games, as in Suetonius on Nero.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Late Latin used it for calculation in general.^(Wiktionary) Medieval Latin kept the senses of arithmetic and the counting board.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW) English ''abacus'' is recorded in the late 14th century, first for a sand table for drawing and calculating.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato the Elder lists it among a farm's equipment.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of sideboards with gold and silver vessels.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of wall panels and of the top of a column.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 34–62 AD – Persius uses it of a counting board.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''abacus'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A slab-topped table, a [[m|en|sideboard]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # An ornamental panel on a wall; the slab at the top of a column, the [[m|en|abacus]] of a [[m|en|capital]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A counting board or sand table.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A board for playing games.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' Calculation, [[m|en|arithmetic]].^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[abacīnus]]

+ * [[abaculus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|abacus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}