locus Latin · revision 4724

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=Livius Andronicus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫɔ.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''locus''' ''m'' (genitive locī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The old form was ''stlocus'', reported by Quintilian and Festus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The plural is ''locī'' for single places and ''loca'' for places connected together, a region.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unclear.^(de Vaan 2008) Walde–Hofmann and Pokorny derived the old form [[m|la|stlocus]] from [[ine-pro|*stel-|t=to place]], but de Vaan rejects this, since there is no such suffix, and considers a form [[m|la|*slok-o-]].^(de Vaan 2008) The Oxford Latin Dictionary calls it doubtful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Livius Andronicus 280/260–before 200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a place or locality, a part of the body, a spot or point, a position or situation, and one's proper place.^(OLD 2012) It was also an occasion, opportunity or grounds, and a passage in a book.^(Wiktionary) Döderlein compares [[grc|τόπος|tr=tópos]] and contrasts it with [[tractus]], a stretch of country.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a manor, a catacomb niche or grave, and a church built over a saint's tomb.^(Niermeyer 1976) British writers used it of places of the mind and in the art of memory.^(DMLBS) Proto-Romance ''*/ˈlɔk-u/'' “place” is continued in all branches of Romance.^(DÉRom) It survives as [[it|luogo]], [[ro|loc]] and Old French ''leu''.^(Wiktionary) English borrowed ''locus'' in 1715.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a spot where something fell.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''local'' is recorded, from Late Latin ''locālis''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1715 – English ''locus'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|place]], locality, neighbourhood.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A part of the body.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A spot, point.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A position, situation; one's proper place.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An occasion, opportunity, grounds.^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|passage]] in a book.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|manor]]; a grave; a church at a saint's tomb.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[locālis]]

+ * [[locārius]]

+ * [[locellus]]

+ * [[locō]]

+ * [[loculus]]

+ * [[locuplēs]]

+ * [[īlicō]]

+ * [[locārium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|locus]]

+ * [[en|local]]

+ * [[en|location]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}