scaena Latin · revision 4248

15 Oct 2026, 21:27 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Plautus|origins=grc σκηνή}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈskae̯.na]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈʃɛː.na]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''scaena''' ''f'' (genitive scaenae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|grc|σκηνή|tr=skēnḗ|t=tent, stage]].^(OLD 2012)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) The OLD puts the vowel change down to Etruscan, while Wiktionary sees the ⟨ae⟩ as a hypercorrection against the merging of /ae/ with /eː/.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The spelling [[m|la|scēna]] was favoured by Accius, as Varro reports.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Plautus, in the Captivi, says the battles will be fought off stage.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It was the background of the stage, then the stage itself, and Virgil uses it of a natural backdrop of trees.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It stood for drama and theatrical life, as when Cicero says the theatre is full of crimes.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it was a sphere of public display, publicity, and a piece of theatrical behaviour, a charade or pretence, as in Petronius and Tacitus.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It also meant the setting of events, as Cicero writes to Atticus.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ In medieval Latin it was a stage building, and Köbler adds a porch, arbour or tent.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010) English ''scene'' is recorded in the 1530s, through French ''scène''.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the stage.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of drama.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a natural backdrop.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 1530s – English ''scene'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # The background of a stage; a backdrop, [[m|en|scenery]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # The stage.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # The drama, the theatre; stage life.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ # Public view, publicity.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A charade, pretence.^(OLD 2012)
+ # The setting of events, a [[m|en|scene]].^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[postscaenius]]
+ * [[scaenalis]]
+ * [[scaenārius]]
+ * [[scaenāticus]]
+ * [[scaenātilis]]
+ * [[scaenicus]]
+ * [[postscaenium]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[en|scene]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}