flecto Latin · revision 5341

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=Naevius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫɛk.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflɛk.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''flectō''' (present infinitive flectere, perfect active flexī, supine flexum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain, with no solid Indo-European cognates.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan suggests that it has a suffix *-t- taken from [[plectō]] “to plait” and perhaps [[nectō]] “to tie”, and that the root could have been *bʰleK-, *dʰleK- or *gʷʰleK-.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The TLL tentatively compares [[falx]] “sickle”.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to bend or curve, as of limbs or a bow, to round a cape, and to turn something in another direction, such as a ship, a horse or a chariot, or to steer a course.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it meant to turn aside anger or misfortune, to change someone's mind, to move or persuade, and in grammar to inflect a word.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Its derivatives include [[flexibilis]], the source of [[en|flexible]], and compounds such as [[dēflectō]] and [[reflectō]], whence [[en|reflect]].^(Etymonline) [[en|flex]] is a back-formation from ''flexible''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of animals bending their limbs and of rounding Leucas.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid speaks of bending a bow.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''reflect'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|bend]], curve.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To round (a cape).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To turn, steer (in another direction).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To turn aside (anger, misfortune); to [[m|en|persuade]], move.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(grammar)'' To [[m|en|inflect]].^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[afflectō]]

+ * [[amflexus]]

+ * [[circumflectō]]

+ * [[conflexus]]

+ * [[dēflectō]]

+ * [[flexanimus]]

+ * [[flexibilis]]

+ * [[flexilis]]

+ * [[flexiō]]

+ * [[flexipēs]]

+ * [[flexō]]

+ * [[flexūra]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nectō]]

+ * [[plectō]]

+ * [[en|flexible]]

+ * [[en|reflect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}