senex Latin · revision 4833

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛ.nɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛː.neks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''senex''' ''m'' or f (genitive senis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Plautus has an old nominative plural ''senicēs'', and an old genitive ''senicis'' is reported.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The comparative is [[senior]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*sen-ek-|t=old man]], [[inh|ine-pro|*sen-(o-)|t=old]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan suggests that an older thematic [[m|itc-pro|*seno-]], as in Celtic, became an i-stem in Latin under the influence of [[iuvenis]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sga|sen|t=old]], [[cy|hen|t=old]], [[sa|सन|tr=sána-|t=old]], [[grc|ἕνος|tr=hénos|t=of last year]], [[lt|sẽnas|t=old]] and [[got|𐍃𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹𐌲𐍃|tr=sineigs|t=old]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius speaks of an old man who, trusting in the gods, prayed to Neptune.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was an old man and, as an adjective, old or aged, as Cato's advice to sell an old slave.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary places it above [[iuvenis]] in age.^(Wiktionary) Its derivatives [[senātus]] “council of elders” and [[senior]] “older” became words of rank.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) Döderlein contrasts it with [[vetus]] and with ''iuvenis''.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ Medieval writers also used it of Satan.^(DMLBS) It survives as [[ro|sânec]], and was borrowed as [[it|sene]].^(Wiktionary) English ''senate'' and ''senior'' come from its derivatives.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato advises selling an old slave (''servum senem'').^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''senate'' is recorded, from ''senātus'', a derivative of ''senex''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|old]] man.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # An old person.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Satan.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Old, [[m|en|aged]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cōnsenior]]

+ * [[persenex]]

+ * [[sēmisenex]]

+ * [[senātus]]

+ * [[seneciō]]

+ * [[senectus]]

+ * [[seneō]]

+ * [[senica,]]

+ * [[seniculus]]

+ * [[senīlis]]

+ * [[senium]]

+ * [[senius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[senior]]

+ * [[en|senate]]

+ * [[en|senior]]

+ * [[en|senile]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore notes that ''senex'' is only masculine, as [[anus]] “old woman” is only feminine.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}