ramus Latin · revision 5380

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Cato|origins=ine-pro *wréh₂ds}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈraː.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈraː.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''rāmus''' ''m'' (genitive rāmī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It probably goes back to [[itc-pro|*wrā(d)mo-]], from *wrād-mo-, related to [[rādīx]] “root”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan justifies the meaning by [[grc|ῥάδιξ|tr=rhádix|t=branch]], which shows that the root could mean “branch” as well as “root”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato, and Köbler from Ennius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) A tragic fragment quoted by Cicero has branches bending under a wealth of berries.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a branch, bough or twig of a tree, and by analogy a branch of a mountain range, an antler or a river, and a branch of a family.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Cicero speaks figuratively of cutting off the branches of miseries.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''rāmī'', living green boughs, with ''rāmālia'', dry ones.^(Döderlein 1874) In medieval British Latin the ''rāmus aureus'' was Virgil's golden bough, and the dove's olive branch was a sign of peace.^(DMLBS) Medieval Latin ''rāmificāre'' gave [[en|ramify]], and [[m|en|ramus]] was borrowed as an anatomical term in 1803.^(Etymonline) The DÉRom reconstructs Proto-Romance */ˈram-u/, as in [[it|ramo]] and [[es|ramo]].^(DÉRom)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of cutting off the branches of miseries.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|branch]], bough, twig.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A branch (of a mountain range, an antler).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A branch of a family.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rāmāle]]

+ * [[rāmes]]

+ * [[rāmeus]]

+ * [[rāmex]]

+ * [[rāmōsus]]

+ * [[rāmulus]]

+ * [[rāmusculus]]

+ * [[multiramis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rādīx]]

+ * [[en|ramify]]

+ * [[en|ramus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}