libra Latin · revision 4850

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Twelve Tables}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈliː.bra]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈliː.bra]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lībra''' ''f'' (genitive lībrae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*leiþra-|t=pound]], of uncertain origin.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The same Italic word was borrowed into Sicilian Greek as [[grc|λίτρα|tr=lítra|t=pound]].^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) Lewis & Short connected it with [[clīnō]] “to lean”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Twelve Tables use it of the pound.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a pound of twelve ounces, about three quarters of an avoirdupois pound, a pair of scales, as in Cicero's scale pressed down by weights, the constellation Libra, a builder's level, ''ad lībram'' “level”, height, balance, and a land measure in Gallia Narbonensis.^(OLD 2012) Varro defines it as the weight of an ''as''.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein explains ''lībra pondō'' as a balance filled to weigh a pound.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a standard weight for gold and silver, and in Britain the troy and the mercantile pound.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) As a money of account it gave French ''livre'' and Italian ''lira''.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Its diminutive [[lībella]] gave English ''level'', and ''dēlīberāre'' “to weigh well” gave ''deliberate''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a pair of scales.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''level'' is recorded, from Old French ''livel'', from ''lībella''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1610s – English ''lira'' is recorded, from Italian.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|pound]] (of twelve ounces).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A pair of [[m|en|scales]], balance.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Lībra'', the constellation [[m|en|Libra]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A level (instrument), ''ad lībram'', level.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Balance, equipoise.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A pound of money.^(Wiktionary)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bilībra]]

+ * [[bilībris]]

+ * [[librārius]]

+ * [[lībella]]

+ * [[lībrālis]]

+ * [[lībrīlis]]

+ * [[lībripens]]

+ * [[lībrō]]

+ * [[sēlībra]]

+ * [[sēmilībra]]

+ * [[trilībris]]

+ * [[aequilībris]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|level]]

+ * [[en|deliberate]]

+ * [[en|lira]]

+ * [[en|livre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore says the pound is made of twelve ounces and is therefore a perfect weight.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}