filum Latin · revision 4760

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *gʷʰiH-(s-)lo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfiː.ɫũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfiː.lum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fīlum''' ''n'' (genitive fīlī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*fī(s)lo-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*gʷʰiH-(s-)lo-|t=sinew, sinew thread]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[lt|gýsla|t=vein, sinew]], [[cu|жила|tr=žila|t=vein]], [[hy|ջիլ|tr=ǰil|t=sinew]] and [[cy|gïau|t=sinews]], and with an unenlarged root in [[sa|ज्या|tr=jyā́|t=bowstring]] and [[grc|βιός|tr=biós|t=bow, bowstring]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The Oxford Latin Dictionary calls the origin doubtful.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short and Georges connected it with [[fīgō]] or [[fingō]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a single thread of yarn, a cord or string, and the thread of life spun by the Fates.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) ''Fīlō pendēre'' was to hang by a thread.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was Theseus' thread in the Labyrinth, the wick of a candle, the strings of a lyre, a woollen fillet worn by priests, a spider's thread, and any fine thread-like thing, such as a plant fibre.^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it was the texture or style of a speech, and the build of a person.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was also the current of a river and a row.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives as [[it|filo]], [[fr|fil]], [[es|hilo]] and [[pt|fio]].^(Wiktionary) Through French ''file'' “row” it gave English ''file''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro calls the thread the smallest part of a garment.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace speaks of the threads of the three sisters, the Fates.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''file'' “arrange papers” is recorded, from French, from the practice of stringing papers on a thread.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|thread]], ''fīlō pendēre'', to hang by a thread.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The thread of life spun by the [[m|en|Fates]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A cord, string; the [[m|en|wick]] of a candle; the strings of a lyre.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A thread spun by a spider or silkworm.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A thread-like part of a plant; a fibre.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The texture or style (of speech); the build (of a person).^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The current of a river; a row.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bifilum]]

+ * [[fīlāmentum]]

+ * [[fīlō]]

+ * [[trifīlis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fūnis]]

+ * [[en|file]]

+ * [[en|filament]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}