ops Latin · revision 4950

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *h₃ep-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ops''' ''f'' (genitive opis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The nominative singular is hardly used; an inscription has the ablative ''opid'' and Varro ''opi''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*opi-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₃e/op-(i-)|t=ability, force]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The different derivatives in the branches and the s-stem in [[opus]] “work” may point to a PIE root noun *op-.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[hit|happina-|t=rich]], [[sa|अप्नस्|tr=ápnas|t=possession, property]] and perhaps [[grc|ὄμπνη|tr=ómpnē|t=food, corn]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was power or ability, as in Virgil's “it is not in our power to thank you”, and in the plural power over others and the resources of a nation, as Accius' power of Troy.^(OLD 2012) The plural ''opēs'' were means, military or economic, and above all wealth, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In the singular it was aid or help, as Plautus' “unless the gods give me help, I'm lost”, and ''summā ope'' “with all one's might”, as in Sallust.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein says ''opēs'' are riches as means to higher ends, against [[dīvitiae]], riches in general.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ Personified, Ops was the goddess of plenty, wife of Saturn.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Its compound [[cōpia]] “abundance” gave English ''copy'', and [[opulentus]] gave ''opulent''.^(Etymonline)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of help and of wealth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius speaks of the power of Troy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''copy'' is recorded, from ''cōpia''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – English ''opulent'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Power]], ability, might.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' Power over others, influence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(plural)'' Resources, means; [[m|en|wealth]], riches.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Aid, help, [[m|en|assistance]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inops]]

+ * [[opifer]]

+ * [[opīmus]]

+ * [[opiparis]]

+ * [[opiparus]]

+ * [[opitulus]]

+ * [[opulēns]]

+ * [[opulentus]]

+ * [[cōpia]]

+ * [[cōpis]]

+ * [[inopiōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[omnis]]

+ * [[opus]]

+ * [[Ops]]

+ * [[en|copy]]

+ * [[en|opulent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Festus says the ancients used ''ops'' for “rich”, as its opposite [[inops]] shows.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}