mirus Latin · revision 5398

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmiː.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmiː.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mīrus''' (feminine mīra, neuter mīrum, comparative mīrior, superlative mīrissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*smeiro-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*sméi-ro-|t=laughing]], from the root *smey- “to smile”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sa|स्मेर|tr=smera|t=smiling]], [[grc|μειδιάω|tr=meidiáō|t=to smile]] and [[ang|smǣre|t=lip]], and with [[en|smile]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan notes that Ernout and Meillet and Sihler doubt whether “laughing” could lead to “astonishing”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler places his career before 200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant extraordinary, remarkable or astonishing, often in the sense of remarkably great or good, as in Plautus' “a remarkable and great deed” and Cicero's ''ō impudentiam mīram!'' “what astonishing impudence!”.^(OLD 2012) It was mostly used predicatively, ''mīrum est'' “it is surprising”, and in ''nec mīrum'' “and no wonder” and [[nīmīrum]] “doubtless”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The verb [[mīror]] “to wonder at” is from it, and through [[mīrāculum]] and [[admīror]] it lies behind [[en|miracle]] and [[en|admire]].^(Etymonline) Vulgar Latin *mīrāre “to look at” gave Old French ''mireoir'' and [[en|mirror]], and ''mīrābilia'' gave [[en|marvel]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of a remarkable and great deed.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero exclaims at astonishing impudence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-12th century – English ''miracle'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Extraordinary, remarkable, [[m|en|astonishing]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''mīrum est'', it is surprising, ''nec mīrum'', and no wonder.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mīrificō]]

+ * [[mīrificus]]

+ * [[mīrimodīs]]

+ * [[mīriō]]

+ * [[permīrus]]

+ * [[nīmīrum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mīror]]

+ * [[en|miracle]]

+ * [[en|admire]]

+ * [[en|mirror]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}