catena Latin · revision 4683

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kaˈteː.na]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kaˈtɛː.na]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''catēna''' ''f'' (genitive catēnae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It may be [[inh|itc-pro|*kates-nā-]], from a stem [[m|itc-pro|*kat-es-]] also seen in [[caterva]] “crowd”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary adds [[cassis]] “hunting net”, and reports Pokorny's root [[ine-pro|*kat-|t=to link, weave together]].^(Wiktionary)^(Georges 1913) The Oxford Latin Dictionary calls it doubtful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus speaks of putting single chains on prisoners.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a chain, as Caesar's anchors held by iron chains instead of ropes, a bond or brace holding beams together, in Cato and Vitruvius, and in the plural chains or fetters.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Figuratively it was the bond of love, and in Manilius and later writers a chain of causes.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says [[vinculum]] is any band and ''catēna'' a chain, for fettering or other uses.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a chain for animals, prisoners, hanging criminals and chaining books, and figuratively a bond or link.^(DMLBS)^(MLW) Proto-Romance ''*/kaˈten-a/'' “chain” is continued in all branches of Romance.^(DÉRom) It survives as [[it|catena]], [[fr|chaîne]] and [[es|cadena]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of fetters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a brace in building.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''chain'' is recorded, from Old French ''chaeine''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1872 – English ''catenary'' is recorded, from [[catēnārius]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|chain]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A bond, brace (holding beams).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # In the plural, chains, [[m|en|fetter|alt=fetters]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A bond (of love).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A chain, series (of causes).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[catella]]

+ * [[catēnārius]]

+ * [[catēnātus]]

+ * [[catēnō]]

+ * [[catenula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cassis]]

+ * [[caterva]]

+ * [[en|chain]]

+ * [[en|catenary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}