stilus Latin · revision 4995

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Naevius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈstɪ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstiː.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''stilus''' ''m'' (genitive stilī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Sometimes written ''stylus'' through a false link with Greek ''stûlos'' “pillar”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008) It may share a root *sti- “sharp object” with [[stimulus]] “goad” and [[stīva]] “plough handle”, and some derive it from [[ine-pro|*(s)teyg-|t=to be sharp, sting]], as [[īnstīgō]], with a lost /g/, but there is no evidence for this.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a long pointed piece of metal, a spike, as hidden stakes in the African War, a pointed tool in farming, and the stem of a plant, as in Columella.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary) Above all it was the stylus for writing on wax tablets, as Plautus' “take the stylus quickly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) From that it was the act of writing or composing, and a style of speech or writing.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a pillar, and a reckoning of the start of the year.^(Niermeyer 1976) Through Old French ''estile'' it gave English ''style'', first “writing instrument” and “manner of writing”, and ''stylus'' was borrowed again later.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a writing stylus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English ''style'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1728 – English ''stylus'' is recorded in botany.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|stake]], spike; a pointed tool.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|stem]], stalk.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|stylus]] for writing on wax tablets.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Writing, composition; [[m|en|style]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A pillar; a style of dating.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[stilō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stimulus]]

+ * [[en|style]]

+ * [[en|stylus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}