balbus Latin · revision 4910

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited, onomatopoeia|attested=Lucilius|origins=ine-pro *bl-bl-}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''balbus''' (feminine balba, neuter balbum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*balbo-]], from an onomatopoeic reduplicated [[ine-pro|*bl-bl-|t=meaningless twaddle, stammering]] that imitates unclear speech.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan notes that the exact PIE form cannot be reconstructed.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|बल्बलाकरोति|tr=balbalā-karoti|t=stammers]], [[grc|βαμβαλύζω|tr=bambalúzō|t=to chatter with the teeth]] and [[lt|blebénti|t=to chatter]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lucilius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Lucilius c. 180–102 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it described someone with a defect of speech, stammering or lisping, as in Cicero and Horace, and was opposed to clear speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein says it was a habitual stammer, against [[blaesus]], a passing one.^(Döderlein 1874) From it came the verb [[balbūtiō]] “to stammer”.^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ It was also a Roman cognomen, as Lucius Cornelius Balbus, whom Cicero defended in 56 BC.^(OLD 2012) In medieval England it was glossed with Old English and Middle English words for stammering and lisping.^(DMLBS) It survives as [[it|balbo]] and [[es|bobo]].^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''balbūtiō''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 56 BC – Cicero defends Lucius Cornelius Balbus.^(OLD 2012)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Stammering]], [[m|en|stuttering]], [[m|en|lisping]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[balbūtiō]]

+ * [[subbalbe]]

+ * [[balbucinor]]

+ * [[balbūtiēs]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[blatiō]]

+ * [[blaesus]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ As a cognomen, ''Balbus'' was borne by Lucius Cornelius Balbus, a supporter of Caesar.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}