limbus Latin · revision 4866

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Varro}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈlɪm.bʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlim.bus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''limbus''' ''m'' (genitive limbī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Varro also has ''lembus''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) It may be from [[ine-pro|*lemb-|t=to hang down limply]], with [[sa|लम्बते|tr=lámbate|t=hangs down]] and [[en|limp]], but the /b/, the specific meaning and its absence from early texts make this doubtful.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Varro uses it of the zodiac, the band of the twelve signs.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was an ornamental border or fringe of a robe, as the embroidered border of Dido's cloak in Virgil, a band or girdle, as in Statius, and a band-like marking on a gem.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It was also the zodiac and the rope bordering a hunting net.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In medieval theology the ''limbus'', the border of hell, was where pre-Christian saints and unbaptized infants were held.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) From it came English ''limbo''.^(Etymonline) Later it gave the anatomical ''limbus'' and ''limbic''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the zodiac.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil describes a cloak with an embroidered border.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''limbo'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1879 – English ''limbic'' is recorded in anatomy.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An ornamental [[m|en|border]], [[m|en|fringe]], hem.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A band, [[m|en|girdle]]; a band-like marking.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The [[m|en|zodiac]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A rope bordering a hunting net.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' [[m|en|Limbo]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[limbātus]]

+ * [[limbulārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|limbo]]

+ * [[en|limbic]]

+ * [[en|limp]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}