fel Latin · revision 4890

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɛɫ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɛl]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fel''' ''n'' (genitive fellis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The closest cognates meaning “bile”, [[grc|χολή|tr=kholḗ|t=bile]], [[lv|žults|t=bile]], [[cu|зълчь|tr=zlŭčĭ|t=bile]] and [[goh|galla|t=gall]], have *ǵʰ-, so if it is from [[ine-pro|*ǵʰelH-|t=yellow, green]] the initial /f/ must be dialectal.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan also allows a root *bʰl(H)-, as in [[flāvus]] “yellow”.^(de Vaan 2008) The nominative must be from *fell, and the paradigm may have been influenced by [[mel]] “honey”, which also has ⟨ll⟩ in its genitive.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was the bile secreted by the liver, the gall bladder, as Cicero's gall of a chicken in divination, and the venom of a viper.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it was bitterness, venom or rancour, as the gall of Ovid's Envy.^(OLD 2012) ''Fel terrae'' “gall of the earth” was the plant centaury.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says it was the gall of animals and a symbol of bitterness to the taste, against [[bīlis]], human bile and a symbol of anger.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was gall as a type of bitterness, often set against [[mel]] “honey”.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it figuratively.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a chicken's gall bladder.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder calls centaury ''fel terrae''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Bile]], [[m|en|gall]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Bitterness, [[m|en|venom]], [[m|en|rancour]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The gall bladder.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Fel terrae'', the plant [[m|en|centaury]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[felleus]]

+ * [[felliducus]]

+ * [[fellifluus]]

+ * [[fellītus]]

+ * [[fellosus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flāvus]]

+ * [[flōrus]]

+ * [[helvus]]

+ * [[bīlis]]

+ * [[mel]]

+ * [[en|gall]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore derives it from the bladder, ''folliculus'', that carries the bile.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}