acus Latin · revision 5219

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Cicero|origins=ine-pro *h₂eḱ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''acus''' ''f'' (genitive acūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It goes back to the root [[ine-pro|*h₂eḱ-|t=sharp]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) The NIL takes it as directly inherited from [[ine-pro|*h₂eḱus|t=pointed]], while de Vaan argues that the noun is a later Latin formation from the same root.^(Wiktionary) It is related to [[ācer]] “sharp” and [[acuō]] “to sharpen”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first examples are from the ''Moretum'' and Cicero, who speaks of a wound that seems to have been made with a needle.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a needle or pin, used for sewing and as an ornament, and a hairpin, ''acū pingere'' “to paint with the needle” meant to embroider.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The proverb ''rem acū tangere'' “to touch the thing with a needle” meant to hit the nail on the head.^(Gaffiot 2016) Pliny uses it of the pipefish or garfish, also called ''belonē''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Isidore explains ''acūs'' as pins that hold a woman's hair together.^(Isidore)

+

+ Köbler records ''acus nautica'' “compass needle” in later Latin.^(Köbler 2010) Its diminutive ''acicula'' gave [[en|acicular]] “needle-shaped”, and the noun survives in [[it|ago]] and [[ro|ac]].^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of a wound made as if by a needle.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses ''acū pingere'' of embroidery.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of the pipefish.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1794 – English ''acicular'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|needle]], pin, ''acū pingere'', to [[m|en|embroider]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

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

+ # A pipefish or garfish.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # (plural) Husks, chaff.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[acuārius]]

+ * [[acūcula]]

+ * [[acula]]

+ * [[aculeus]]

+ * [[acupūnctūra]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[acia]]

+ * [[acūmen]]

+ * [[acuō]]

+ * [[aceō]]

+ * [[ācer]]

+ * [[en|acicular]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different neuter noun ''acus'' (genitive ''aceris'') “husks, chaff”, found in Cato and Varro, is the word de Vaan treats, from [[itc-pro|*akos|t=sharpness]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}