nuntius Latin · revision 5387

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnuːn.ti.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnun.t͡si.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nūntius''' ''m'' (genitive nūntiī or nūntī, feminine nūntia); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It probably goes back to *nountio-, as the old spellings ⟨nountius⟩ and ⟨nontius⟩ show, but the further etymology is unclear.^(de Vaan 2008) It has been derived from a root *neuH- “to cry”, as in [[sa|नवते|tr=návate|t=cries]], which is not found in Latin, and also from [[novus]] “new”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD derives it from the neuter [[nūntium]] “message”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Plautus has Mercury described as Jupiter's messenger.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a messenger or envoy, and also the message itself, an order, warning or report, as in Plautus' “you want to bring me good news”.^(OLD 2012) The phrase ''nūntium remittere'' meant to send a notice of divorce.^(Gaffiot 2016) As an adjective it meant announcing or foretelling, of omens and signs.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a witness, a proxy, the emperor's envoy (''missus dominicus''), a court officer, and in Christian Latin an angel.^(Niermeyer 1976) Italian ''nuncio'' gave [[en|nuncio]] “papal envoy” in the 1520s, and [[annūntiō]] “to announce” gave [[en|announce]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus calls Mercury Jupiter's messenger.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1520s – English ''nuncio'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|messenger]], envoy.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A message; a report, news.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''nūntium remittere'', to send notice of [[m|en|divorce]].^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A witness; a proxy; a court officer.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' An [[m|en|angel]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Announcing, bringing word (of).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Foretelling, prophetic.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[adnuntius]]

+ * [[internūntius]]

+ * [[nū̆ntia]]

+ * [[nūntium]]

+ * [[praenuntius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nūntiō]]

+ * [[en|nuncio]]

+ * [[en|announce]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}