cortex Latin · revision 5355

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Cato|origins=ine-pro *(s)ker-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔr.tɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔr.teks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cortex''' ''m'' or f (genitive corticis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*k(o)rt-ek-]], from [[ine-pro|*k(o)rt-|t=a cutting]], with the suffix of [[caudex]] and [[frutex]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|कृन्तति|tr=kṛntáti|t=cuts]], [[lt|kir̃sti|t=to hew]] and [[goh|herdo|t=skin]], and related to [[corium]] “skin” and [[scortum]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Wiktionary takes the root as *(s)ker- “to cut”, as in [[en|shear]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato, who tells how to rub the husks off wheat.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the bark of a tree and in particular cork, used for floats and beehives, and so a symbol of lightness.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It also meant the rind of fruit, the husk of grain, the shell of an egg or turtle, and any outer layer.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was usually masculine, but Lucretius and Virgil make it feminine.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval British Latin it could mean the surface or literal meaning of a text, as opposed to its kernel.^(DMLBS) [[en|cortex]] was borrowed in the 1650s, and the brain's cortex is from 1741.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato speaks of rubbing the husks off wheat.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero says tree trunks are covered with bark.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it as a feminine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1650s – English ''cortex'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|bark]] (of a tree).^(OLD 2012)

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

+ # A rind, husk, shell; an outer layer.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The surface or literal sense (of a text).^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[corticātus]]

+ * [[corticeus]]

+ * [[corticōsus]]

+ * [[corticulus]]

+ * [[dēcorticō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scortum]]

+ * [[corium]]

+ * [[en|cortex]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}