castus Latin · revision 5137

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=itc-pro *kas-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''castus''' (feminine casta, neuter castum, comparative castior, superlative castissimus, adverb castē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the old participle of [[careō]] “to lack, be without”, [[inh|itc-pro|*kas-to-]], so originally “free from”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The root has no certain Indo-European cognates; de Vaan finds the usual connection with [[ine-pro|*ḱes-|t=to cut]] neither phonetically nor semantically convincing.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Older dictionaries compared [[grc|καθαρός|tr=katharós|t=pure]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates the adjective from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has women say they ought to be free from blame.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense, with ''ab'', was free from or untouched by something.^(OLD 2012) From this it meant free from vice, upright, unstained in a religious sense, holy, and sexually pure, chaste, or virgin, as the Vestals.^(OLD 2012) Of language it meant pure and faultless.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein distinguishes ''castus'', chastity as a natural purity of soul, from [[pudīcus]], a sense of shame.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Christian Latin it described a chaste virgin and purity of faith.^(DMLBS) It survives in [[it|casto]] and [[es|casto]], and Old French ''chaste'' gave [[en|chaste]].^(Wiktionary) Portuguese ''casta'' means “breed, race”.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of being free from blame.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the chaste Vestal priestesses.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of Caesar's pure style.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Free from, untouched by (with ''ab'').^(OLD 2012)

+ # Upright, moral, [[m|en|virtuous]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Pure in a religious sense, holy, [[m|en|pious]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|chaste]]; virgin.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of language)'' Pure, faultless.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[castificō]]

+ * [[castificus]]

+ * [[castīgō]]

+ * [[castīmōnia]]

+ * [[castitās]]

+ * [[castitūdō]]

+ * [[castum]]

+ * [[incestus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[careō]]

+ * [[en|chaste]]

+ * [[en|caste]]

+ * [[en|chastise]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A homonymous noun ''castus'' (fourth declension) meant a ceremonial abstinence observed for religious reasons, attested from Naevius.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}