capax Latin · revision 5292

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Lucretius|origins=ine-pro *keh₂p-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈka.paːks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkaː.paks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''capāx''' (genitive capācis, comparative capācior, superlative capācissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|capiō|-āx|t1=to take, hold]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The verb ''capiō'' is [[inh|itc-pro|*kap-i-|t=to seize]], which de Vaan derives from PIE *kh₂p-i- or from a non-Indo-European *kap-i-.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Lucretius,^(de Vaan 2008) who speaks of the capacious walls of the world.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant able to hold a lot, roomy or capacious, as of cups, urns and places.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short note that it is frequent in poets and in post-Augustan prose, and that Cicero perhaps has it only once, figuratively.^(Lewis & Short 1879) With a genitive it meant big enough for something, then capable of having or receiving, and capable of understanding.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval British Latin it also meant retentive.^(DMLBS) It survives in [[it|capace]] and [[es|capaz]], and [[en|capacious]] dates from the 1610s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius speaks of the capacious walls of the world.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace calls for larger cups.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of being capable of receiving a benefit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1610s – English ''capacious'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Able to hold much, roomy, [[m|en|capacious]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Big enough for (with genitive).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Capable of having or receiving.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Capable of understanding; apt, fit.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[capācitās]]

+ * [[incapāx]]

+ * [[capāciter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[capiō]]

+ * [[en|capacious]]

+ * [[en|capacity]]

+ * [[en|capable]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}