latus Latin · revision 4867

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''latus''' ''n'' (genitive lateris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an old s-stem from a root *lat-, with no good etymology.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) De Vaan finds a link with [[sga|sliss|t=side]] and [[cy|ystlys|t=side]] attractive.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary mentions [[ine-pro|*pleth₂-|t=flat]] or [[ine-pro|*stelh₃-|t=broad]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it: “I'll make your sides leather”, that is, I'll flay you.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was the side or flank of a person or animal, as Cicero's ''dolor lateris'' “pain in the side”, and the lungs as the seat of the voice.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It was the side of anything, of a camp, an army's flank or a triangle, and ''ab latere'' someone was one of a person's close circle, as Livy's tyrant's entourage.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein places it between the hip and the shoulder.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin ''ā latere'' was used of a ruler's envoy.^(Niermeyer 1976) Its adjective ''laterālis'' gave English ''lateral''.^(Etymonline) It survives as [[it|lato]], [[fr|lez]], [[es|lado]] and [[ro|lat]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses ''laterālis''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a pain in the side.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''lateral'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|side]], [[m|en|flank]] (of the body).^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # The lungs (as the seat of the voice).^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The side of anything.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''Ab latere'', from someone's close circle.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' ''Ā latere'', sent by a ruler.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[laterālis]]

+ * [[laterārius]]

+ * [[laterensis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[later]]

+ * [[en|lateral]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Unrelated are the adjective ''lātus'' “broad”, perhaps from *stlātos, and ''lātus'', the perfect participle of [[ferō]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Isidore derived it from [[lateō]] “to lie hidden”.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}