curtus Latin · revision 4902

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Lucilius|origins=ine-pro *(s)ker-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''curtus''' (feminine curta, neuter curtum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*korto-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*kr-to-|t=cut off]], with /or/ becoming /ur/.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan connects it, as Walde–Hofmann did, with [[ine-pro|*(s)ker-|t=to cut off, shave]], while Ernout–Meillet and Meiser connect it with *kʷer- “to cut”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|καρτός|tr=kartós|t=cut off, shorn]], [[goh|scurz|t=short]] and [[en|short]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lucilius uses it of a broken Samian dish.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Lucilius c. 180–102 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was something with a part missing, mutilated or broken, as Lucretius' and Juvenal's broken pots, and circumcised.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary) Figuratively it was incomplete or imperfect, as Cicero's ears that miss the full rhythm of a sentence.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein contrasts it, shortened, with [[brevis]], short by nature.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it simply meant short, with no idea of a defect.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives as [[it|corto]], [[fr|court]] and [[ro|scurt]], and English ''curt'' is borrowed from it.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The Latin word was also taken early into the Germanic languages, as German ''kurz''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of a broken dish.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of broken pots.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''curt'' is recorded as “short, concise”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Mutilated]], damaged, broken; shortened.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|Circumcised]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ # Incomplete, imperfect.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|Short]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[curtiventris]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[curtō]]

+ * [[Curtius]]

+ * [[carō]]

+ * [[corium]]

+ * [[brevis]]

+ * [[en|curt]]

+ * [[en|short]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}