meridianus Latin · revision 4191

15 Oct 2026, 21:12 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Varro|origins=la merīdiēs}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [mɛ.riː.diˈaː.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [me.ri.diˈaː.nus]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''merīdiānus''' (feminine merīdiāna, neuter merīdiānum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[af|la|merīdiēs|-ānus|t1=midday; south]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) ''Merīdiēs'' is from [[m|la|merīdiē|t=at noon]], altered by dissimilation from [[m|la|*medi diē]], from [[medius]] “middle” and [[dies|alt=diēs]] “day”.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The TLL dates it from Varro, who says the northern part of the world is healthier than the southern.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant of or at midday, as Cicero's ''tempus meridianum'' “noon”, Livy's scorching midday sun, and the midday sleep of Celsus and Pliny the Younger.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) The ''meridiani'' were gladiators who fought at noon, after the beast-fighters of the morning, in Seneca and Suetonius.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010) Vitruvius uses it of the noon position of the sun, the meridian circle.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ It also meant southern, as the southern Ethiopians, and as a noun a southerner.^(OLD 2012) In medieval Latin it also meant as clear as midday, obvious, and ''daemonium meridianum'', after Psalm 90, the noonday devil.^(DMLBS) English ''meridian'' is recorded in the mid-14th century, first for noon or midday.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the southern part of the world.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''tempus meridianum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of the meridian.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius mentions the midday gladiators.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-14th century – English ''meridian'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Of or at [[m|en|midday]], [[m|en|noon]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Of the noon position of the sun, [[m|en|meridian]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # [[m|en|southern]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Clear as day, obvious.^(DMLBS)
+ 
+ ===Noun===
+ # ''(plural)'' Gladiators who fought at midday.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ # A southerner.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[antemerīdiānus]]
+ * [[postmerīdiānus]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[meridies]]
+ * [[en|meridian]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}