eunuchus Latin · revision 4141

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Terence|origins=grc εὐνοῦχος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɛu̯ˈnuː.kʰʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eu̯ˈnuː.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''eunūchus''' ''m'' (genitive eunūchī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|εὐνοῦχος|tr=eunoûkhos|t=eunuch]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Saalfeld 1874) Etymonline explains the Greek as “guard of the bedchamber”, from [[m|grc|εὐνή|tr=eunḗ|t=bed]] and [[m|grc|ἔχω|tr=ékhō|t=to have, hold]], and Donatus already gave this explanation.^(Etymonline)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Terence uses it in the Eunuch, a comedy whose title is feminine because ''fabula'' is understood.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a castrated man, in Cicero, Caesar, Martial and Juvenal.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) The Vulgate uses it often, and medieval writers referred to the eunuchs of Matthew 19 and the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(DMLBS)

+

+ In medieval Latin it also meant a chamberlain, an official or servant, and of animals a gelding.^(Köbler 2010)^(MLW)^(DMLBS) English ''eunuch'' is recorded in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence names a comedy after it.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it often.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # ''Eunūchus'' (feminine), the title of Terence's comedy.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|chamberlain]], official; a [[m|en|gelding]].^(Köbler 2010)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[eunuchinus]]

+ * [[eunūchō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|eunuch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}