vanus Latin · revision 5220

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₁weh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwaː.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvaː.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vānus''' (feminine vāna, neuter vānum, superlative vānissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*wāno-]] (or *wāsno-), [[inh|ine-pro|*h₁ueh₂-no-]], from the root *h₁weh₂- “to leave, be empty”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) If it is related to [[vāstus]] “empty, desolate”, it may go back to *wās-no-.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|ऊन|tr=ūná|t=lacking]], [[ae|ūna|t=deficient]] and [[got|𐍅𐌰𐌽𐍃|tr=wans|t=lacking]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD compares [[en|want]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has “you sing the truth” — “I wish it were empty”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant empty or hollow, as of ears of grain or trees, and then insubstantial or illusory.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of statements it meant false or groundless, of people untrustworthy or boastful, and of efforts useless or vain, ''in vānum'' meant “in vain”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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+ In medieval Latin ''vānum pāstūrāgium'' was the right of grazing on fallow land.^(Niermeyer 1976) Through Old French ''vain'' it gave [[en|vain]] about 1300; [[vānitās]] gave [[en|vanity]], and ''vānāre'' “to talk idly” led to Old French ''vanter'' and [[en|vaunt]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of empty words.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of a harvest that cheated with empty ears.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''vanity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''vain'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Empty, hollow, insubstantial.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Illusory, empty (of meaning or force).^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|false]], groundless.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of persons) Untrustworthy, lying; boastful.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|futile]], vain, ''in vānum'', in vain.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vānēscō]]

+ * [[vānitās]]

+ * [[vāstus]]

+ * [[en|vain]]

+ * [[en|vanity]]

+ * [[en|vaunt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}