asparagus Latin · revision 4041

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [asˈpa.ra.ɡʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [asˈpaː.ra.ɡus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''asparagus''' ''m'' (genitive asparagī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἀσπάραγος|tr=aspáragos|t=asparagus]], a variant of [[m|grc|ἀσφάραγος|tr=aspháragos]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Saalfeld 1874) Etymonline calls the Greek word of uncertain origin, and Köbler mentions a possible connection with [[ae|sparəga-|t=shoot]].^(Etymonline)^(Köbler 2010) Varro and Festus derived it from the rough ([[m|la|asper]]) thickets in which it grows, though Varro allows that it may be Greek.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato the Elder gives instructions for growing it in his treatise on agriculture.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the garden asparagus, in Cato, Varro, Columella and Pliny, and in Suetonius' life of Augustus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Georges notes that cultivated asparagus was distinguished from the wild ''corruda''.^(Georges 1913) Pliny also used it of a tender shoot of other plants, like that of asparagus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was often ''sparagus'' and was applied to wild asparagus and other herbs.^(Etymonline)^(MLW)^(DMLBS) English had ''sparage'' in late Old English and ''aspergy'' in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato the Elder describes its cultivation.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro mentions it and explains its name.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of shoots of other plants.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # A [[m|en|shoot]] or sprout like that of asparagus.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Wild asparagus; other herbs.^(MLW)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|asparagus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}