vastus Latin · revision 4786

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₁weh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwaːs.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvas.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vāstus''' (feminine vāsta, neuter vāstum, comparative vāstior, superlative vāstissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*wāsto-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₁u(e)h₂-sto-|t=empty]], from [[ine-pro|*h₁weh₂-|t=empty, wasted]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sga|fás|t=empty]], [[goh|wuosti|t=desolate]] and [[ang|wēste|t=waste]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Some scholars separate a word “huge” from “empty”, but de Vaan notes that the dictionaries do not, and the Oxford Latin Dictionary thinks two roots may have merged.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==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 first desolate, empty, without people, as Cicero's deserted forum.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) The sea and other great expanses were dreary, and so it came to mean huge and awe-inspiring, of wild beasts and monsters, and clumsy or ungainly.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein ranks it with [[ingēns]] and [[immānis]], overwhelming greatness.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was deserted, uncultivated, and as a noun waste land.^(DMLBS) It survives as [[it|vasto]], [[fr|vaste]] and [[ro|vast]].^(Wiktionary) Through Old North French it gave English ''waste'', and through French ''vaste'' English ''vast''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a deserted forum.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''waste'' is recorded, from Latin ''vāstus'' through Old North French.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – English ''vast'' is recorded, from French ''vaste''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Empty, desolate, deserted; [[m|en|waste]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Dreary, of great extent.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Vast]], [[m|en|huge]], awe-inspiring.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Clumsy, ungainly; uncultivated, rough.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' As a noun, waste land.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vāstitās]]

+ * [[vāstitiēs]]

+ * [[vāstō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vānus]]

+ * [[vacō]]

+ * [[en|waste]]

+ * [[en|vast]]

+ * [[en|devastation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}