amicus Latin · revision 5159

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₃mh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [aˈmiː.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈmiː.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''amīcus''' ''m'' (genitive amīcī, feminine amīca); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|amō|-īcus|t1=to love]]; the adjective “friendly” is the original use.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan suggests that the suffix -īcus may come from an instrumental in *-ih₁ with *-ko-, as in [[pudīcus]] and [[mendīcus]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The verb is [[inh|itc-pro|*ama-|t=to take, hold]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₃mh₃-|t=to take hold of]], the meaning having developed from taking someone's hand to regarding as a friend.^(de Vaan 2008) An old form ⟨amecus⟩ is reported by Festus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates the noun from Naevius and the adjective from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun it was a personal friend and also a lover.^(OLD 2012) In public life it was a political supporter, and in the plural a ruler's retinue, his courtiers and counsellors, ''amīcus populī Rōmānī'' was a title given to foreign kings and peoples.^(OLD 2012) A philosopher's ''amīcī'' were his followers.^(OLD 2012) The adjective meant friendly or well-disposed, politically supportive, loyal and dear.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein notes that ''amīcus'' implies a calm affection returned by the other, unlike [[amāns]] and [[amātor]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin an ''amīcus'' was a freeman who had commended himself to a lord, and the ''amīcī rēgis'' were the great men around a king.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in [[it|amico]], [[es|amigo]] and [[fr|ami]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the adjective and the noun “friend”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a king's counsellors.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – It is used of a freeman under a lord's protection.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|friend]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|lover]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A political supporter, partisan, ''(plural)'' a ruler's courtiers, counsellors.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A friend of the Roman people (a title of foreign kings and peoples).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A follower, disciple.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A freeman under a lord's protection.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Friendly, well-disposed, [[m|en|amicable]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Politically supportive, ''(of states)'' friendly, allied.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Loyal, devoted; dear.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[amīcālis]]

+ * [[amīcōsus]]

+ * [[amīculus]]

+ * [[amīca]]

+ * [[amīcitia]]

+ * [[amīcitiēs]]

+ * [[inimīcus]]

+ * [[peramicus]]

+ * [[amīcābilis]]

+ * [[amīcē]]

+ * [[amīciter]]

+ * [[amīcō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amō]]

+ * [[amor]]

+ * [[en|amicable]]

+ * [[en|enemy]]

+ * [[en|amity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}