asbestos Latin · revision 4014

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Varro|origins=grc ἄσβεστος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [asˈbɛs.tɔs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [azˈbɛs.tos]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''asbestos''' ''m'' (genitive asbestī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἄσβεστος|tr=ásbestos|t=inextinguishable]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The Greek adjective is from [[m|grc|ἀ-|tr=a-|t=not]] and [[m|grc|σβεστός|tr=sbestós]], from [[m|grc|σβέννυμι|tr=sbénnumi|t=to quench]], from [[ine-pro|*(s)gʷes-|t=to quench]].^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) Isidore of Seville says the stone was named from fire, because once lit it is never put out.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Varro lists it among the things whose names, coming with luxury, are clearly Greek.^(TLL) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Pliny describes it as an iron-grey stone found in the mountains of Arcadia, which Lewis & Short and Georges think is not modern asbestos but perhaps the mineral amiantus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(TLL) Solinus and Isidore repeat that once kindled it cannot be extinguished, and Augustine mentions the Arcadian stone in the City of God.^(TLL)^(Isidore)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it of asbestos and of quicklime, with forms such as ''albestos''.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010) English had ''albeston'' and ''abestus'' from about 1100 for a fabulous stone that could not be put out, and ''asbestos'' from the 1650s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro mentions it among Greek words.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes the Arcadian stone.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 354–430 AD – Augustine mentions it in the City of God.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1100 – English ''abestus'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – English ''asbestos'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An iron-grey stone of Arcadia, said to burn without going out; perhaps [[m|en|amianthus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|asbestos]]; [[m|en|quicklime]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|asbestos]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}