gens Latin · revision 4773

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *ǵenh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɡẽːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈd͡ʒɛns]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gēns''' ''f'' (genitive gentis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*genti-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*ǵénh₁-ti-|t=birth, offspring]], from [[ine-pro|*ǵenh₁-|t=to beget]], the root of [[gignō]] and [[genus]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan reports Schrijver's view that it is a fairly recent formation, since the old word continues as [[nātiō]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|जाति|tr=jāti|t=birth, caste]], [[ae|frazaiṇti-|t=offspring]] and [[ang|gecynd|t=kind, nature]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first meaning was a clan, people of one descent.^(de Vaan 2008) In Classical Latin it was a race, nation or people, as Ennius' great and wealthy peoples, and in the plural the nations of the world or the foreign peoples apart from Rome, ''ubi gentium?'' was “where in the world?”.^(OLD 2012) It was a Roman clan, families sharing a name and an ancestor, at first only patrician, and descent or offspring.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ovid uses it of a kind of animal.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was relatives, a lord's men or retinue, and an army.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW) It survives as [[it|gente]], [[es|gente]], [[pt|gente]] and French ''gens''.^(Wiktionary) English ''gentle'' and ''gentile'', “a pagan”, come from [[gentīlis]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius speaks of great, wealthy peoples.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 13th century – English ''gentle'' is recorded, from ''gentīlis'' through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – English ''gentile'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A race, [[m|en|nation]], people.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # In the plural, the nations of the world; foreign peoples.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A country, ''ubi gentium'', where in the world.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A Roman [[m|en|clan]], a group of families with one name.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Descent; offspring.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A kind (of animal).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Relatives; a lord's men; an army.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[genticus]]

+ * [[gentīlis]]

+ * [[ingēns]]

+ * [[gentīlicius]]

+ * [[gentīlitās]]

+ * [[gentīlitius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gignō]]

+ * [[nāscor]]

+ * [[genus]]

+ * [[nātiō]]

+ * [[en|gentle]]

+ * [[en|gentile]]

+ * [[en|genteel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore defines a ''gēns'' as a multitude descended from one origin.^(Isidore) Döderlein says that ''gēns'' and [[nātiō]] denote a people by common descent, without reference to the state.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}