laxus Latin · revision 5399

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫak.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlak.sus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''laxus''' (feminine laxa, neuter laxum, comparative laxior, superlative laxissimus, adverb laxē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*(s)lakso-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*sl̥ǵ-so-|t=weak, faint]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) It is related to [[langueō]] “to be faint”, and cognate with [[grc|λήγω|tr=lḗgō|t=to cease]], [[sga|lacc|t=slack]] and [[non|slakr]] ([[en|slack]]).^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato,^(de Vaan 2008) who says the naves of an oil press must not be loose.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant wide or roomy, loosely packed, slack or unstrung, as of ropes and bows, loose-fitting, as of shoes in Horace, and open or gaping.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Of the body it meant relaxed, of time long or distant, and of rules and discipline free or lax.^(OLD 2012) Livy uses it of low prices.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline)

+

+ The verb [[laxō]] “to loosen” and its compound [[relaxō]] gave [[en|relax]].^(Etymonline) Through Old French ''laissier'' it is also behind [[en|release]] and [[en|lease]].^(Etymonline) [[en|lax]] was first used of the bowels about 1400.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato says the naves must not be loose.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus speaks of loose tunics for mackerel.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace speaks of a loose shoe.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''lax'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Wide, spacious, roomy.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Loosely packed; [[m|en|slack]], loose.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Open, gaping; untied.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of time) Long, distant.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Free, unrestricted, (of discipline) [[m|en|lax]], (of prices) low.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[laxitās]]

+ * [[laxō]]

+ * [[laxāmentum]]

+ * [[laxē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[langueō]]

+ * [[en|relax]]

+ * [[en|release]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}