argentum Latin · revision 5324

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *h₂erǵ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [arˈɡɛn.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [arˈd͡ʒɛn.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''argentum''' ''n'' (genitive argentī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*argento-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₂r̥ǵ-n̥t-o-|t=silver]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[osc|aragetud|t=with money]], [[xfa|arcentelom|t=small silver coin]], [[sga|argat|t=silver]], [[cy|arian|t=silver]] and [[xto|ārkyant]], and related to [[grc|ἄργυρος|tr=árguros|t=silver]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan notes that the Oscan and Faliscan words could be borrowed from Latin, but nothing proves it.^(de Vaan 2008) Isidore remarks that the name is close to the Greek.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius, and Köbler from Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Naevius uses it of money taken on loan.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the metal silver, things made of silver such as plate and ornaments, silver coin, as in ''argentum signātum'' “coined silver”, and money in general, the usual sense in comedy.^(OLD 2012) ''Argentum vīvum'' was quicksilver, which Isidore explains by its running like a living thing.^(Isidore)

+

+ In medieval alchemy silver was linked with the Moon.^(DMLBS) Through Old French it gave [[en|argent]], silver in heraldry, and it survives in [[it|argento]], [[fr|argent]] and [[ro|argint]].^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of money taken on loan.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus tells a slave to wash the silver plate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero hears there is no gold or silver in Britain.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains ''argentum vīvum''.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''argent'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|silver]] (the metal).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Silver plate, silverware.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Silver coin, ''argentum signātum'', coined silver.^(OLD 2012)

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

+ # ''argentum vīvum'', [[m|en|quicksilver]].^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[argentārius]]

+ * [[argentātus]]

+ * [[argenteus]]

+ * [[argentīfodīna]]

+ * [[argentifex]]

+ * [[argentōsus]]

+ * [[deargentō]]

+ * [[inargento]]

+ * [[argentāria]]

+ * [[argentārium]]

+ * [[argentīnus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[argī̆lla]]

+ * [[en|argent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}