carcer Latin · revision 5319

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkar.kɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkar.t͡ʃer]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''carcer''' ''m'' (genitive carceris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*karkr(o)-]], perhaps a reduplicated [[ine-pro|*kr̥-kr̥-|t=circular]], and connects it with words for a circle or round object such as [[curvus]] and [[grc|κίρκος|tr=kírkos|t=ring]]; he compares [[grc|καρκίνος|tr=karkínos|t=crab]].^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary takes it as a doublet of [[cancer]].^(Wiktionary) Lewis and Short mention Sicilian [[grc|κάρκαρον|tr=kárkaron|t=prison]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Isidore derives it from [[coerceō]] “to confine”.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has a slave fearing that the night police may throw him into jail.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a jail or prison, and by transfer the cave in which Aeolus kept the winds, and, as an insult, a jailbird.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In the plural, or in the singular in poetry, it was the starting gates of a racecourse, and so the start of a course, as in ''ad carcerēs ā calce revocārī'' “to be called back from the finish to the start”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts [[custōdia]], the prison in general, with ''carcer'', the part for citizens, and [[ergastulum]], the slaves' workhouse.^(Döderlein 1874) In medieval Latin it was also a hermit's cell, and the prison of the soul or Hell.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) Medieval Latin ''incarcerāre'' “to imprison” gave [[en|incarcerate]].^(Etymonline) The ''Appendix Probi'' corrects ''carcar'' to ''carcer''.^(Appendix Probi) It survives in [[it|carcere]] and [[es|cárcel]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has a slave fearing jail.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the starting gates.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the prison of the winds.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore derives it from ''coercēre''.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1550s – English ''incarcerate'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|prison]], jail.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The cave of the winds; a jailbird.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # (usually plural) The starting gates of a racecourse; the start.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A hermit's cell.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[carceralis]]

+ * [[carcerārius]]

+ * [[carcereus]]

+ * [[incarcerō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cancer]]

+ * [[en|incarcerate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}