cerebrum Latin · revision 5313

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ḱerh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɛ.rɛ.brũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃɛː.re.brum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cerebrum''' ''n'' (genitive cerebrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*kerasro-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*ḱerh₂-s-ro-|t=brain]], literally “the thing in the head”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Nussbaum explains it as a noun made from an adjective “in the head”, based on a locative of *ḱerh₂-s- “head”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|शिरस्|tr=śíras|t=head]], [[grc|κάρα|tr=kára|t=head]], [[grc|κέρας|tr=kéras|t=horn]] and [[goh|hirni|t=brain]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has a man saying that someone's words knock his brains out.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the brain, then the top of the head or skull, and the seat of the intelligence, senses or temper, so that ''cerebrum'' could also mean hot temper.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Cicero reports that some thought the soul had its seat in the brain.^(Gaffiot 2016) Pliny uses it of the edible bud at the top of a palm.^(OLD 2012) Ennius has the split form ''cere comminuit brum''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Its diminutive [[cerebellum]] meant a small brain.^(Wiktionary) [[en|cerebrum]] was borrowed in the 1610s, and [[m|en|cerebral]] came from French in 1801.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius has ''cere comminuit brum''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says words knock someone's brains out.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero reports the view that the soul is in the brain.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|brain]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The top of the head, [[m|en|skull]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The seat of the intellect or senses; temper.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # The terminal bud of a palm.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cerebellum]]

+ * [[cerebrālis]]

+ * [[cerebrōsus]]

+ * [[excerebrō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cernuus]]

+ * [[cervīx]]

+ * [[cornū]]

+ * [[en|cerebral]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}