gypsum Latin · revision 4126

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɡyp.sũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈd͡ʒip.sum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gypsum''' ''n'' (genitive gypsī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|γύψος|tr=gúpsos|t=chalk, gypsum]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Wiktionary regards the Greek word as Pre-Greek, while Etymonline reports Klein's view that it is perhaps Semitic.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Isidore of Seville notes that it is a Greek name.^(Isidore) A masculine [[m|la|gypsus]] is also found.^(TLL)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato the Elder mentions it in his treatise on agriculture.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was gypsum or the plaster made from it, plaster of Paris, in Cato, Vitruvius, Celsus, Columella, Seneca and Pliny.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Juvenal uses it by metonymy of plaster busts, mocking houses full of plaster images of Chrysippus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Isidore of Seville says it is related to lime and is used for the figures and cornices of buildings.^(Isidore)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it of gypsum, chalk, lime, alabaster and selenite, and of gypsum quarries.^(MLW)^(DMLBS) It survives in [[it|gesso]] and [[es|yeso]].^(Wiktionary) English ''gypsum'' is recorded in the late 14th century, and ''gesso'' came from Italian in the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato the Elder mentions it.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes it.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses it of plaster busts.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|gypsum]]; [[m|en|plaster]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A plaster figure.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Chalk, lime; [[m|en|alabaster]].^(MLW)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gypseus]]

+ * [[gypsō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|gypsum]]

+ * [[en|gesso]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}