portus Latin · revision 4038

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Twelve Tables|origins=ine-pro *pr-tu-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpɔr.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɔr.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''portus''' ''m'' (genitive portūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*portu-|t=harbour]], [[inh|ine-pro|*pr-tu-|t=crossing, ford]], a u-stem “passage, crossing” from the root [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to cross]], which also gave [[porta]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Cognate with [[ae|pərətu-|t=crossing, bridge]], [[cy|rhyd|t=ford]], [[ang|ford]] and [[non|fjǫrðr|t=fjord]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Laws of the Twelve Tables use it, probably meaning a door.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) Naevius prays to the north wind to carry Orestes into the nearby harbour.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first meaning was an entrance or passage, which survives in [[angiportus]] “alley”; the Twelve Tables use it, according to Festus, of a house door.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012) It meant a harbour or port, as Plautus' “our ship sets sail from the harbour” and Cicero's famous port of Caieta.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ Figuratively it meant a refuge, a haven from trouble, and it also meant a warehouse.^(OLD 2012) Isidore says it is a place sheltered from winds, named from carrying goods (''deportare'').^(Isidore) In medieval Latin it meant a river landing, a ferry and ferry dues.^(Niermeyer 1976) Romance kept it, as Italian [[m|it|porto]] and Spanish [[m|es|puerto]], and English ''port'' “harbour” comes from it through Old English.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of a harbour.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero writes of the famous port of Caieta.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|harbour]], [[m|en|port]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A refuge, [[m|en|haven]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

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

+ # ''(Twelve Tables)'' A door.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A landing stage; a ferry; ferry dues.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[portensis]]

+ * [[portuōsus]]

+ * [[Portūnus]]

+ * [[angiportum]]

+ * [[angiportus]]

+ * [[importūnus]]

+ * [[oportūnus]]

+ * [[portitor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[porta]]

+ * [[en|port]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}