asphodelus Latin · revision 4042

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Columella|origins=grc ἀσφόδελος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [asˈpʰɔ.dɛ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''asphodelus''' ''m'' (genitive asphodelī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἀσφόδελος|tr=asphódelos|t=asphodel]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Etymonline calls the Greek word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline) The native Latin names were [[m|la|hastula rēgia]] and, according to Isidore, [[m|la|albucium]].^(Georges 1913)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Columella mentions it, and Pliny describes it at length.^(Georges 1913)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Columella to the 1st century AD.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the asphodel, a lily-like plant with tubers at the root.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny reports that Theophrastus and Pythagoras called its stalk ''anthericus'' and its root ''asphodelus'', while the Romans called the stalk ''albucus'' and the plant ''hastula regia''.^(TLL) Gellius uses the neuter ''asphodelum''.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ Medieval Latin had many forms, such as ''affodillus'' and ''afrodillus'', used for the asphodel, the Turk's cap lily and in medicine, and in Britain also for ramsons and daffodils.^(Köbler 2010)^(MLW)^(DMLBS) Through Medieval Latin ''affodillus'', English got ''affodill'' about 1400 and then ''daffodil'' in the 1540s, first of the asphodel.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1st century AD – Columella mentions it.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes the plant.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''affodill'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – English ''daffodil'' is recorded, of the asphodel.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Various plants: the [[m|en|daffodil]], ramsons.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|daffodil]]

+ * [[en|asphodel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}