tardus Latin · revision 5449

16 Oct 2026, 02:42 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Naevius}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈtar.dʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtar.dus]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''tardus''' (feminine tarda, neuter tardum, comparative tardior, superlative tardissimus, adverb tardē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ De Vaan finds no etymology for it.^(de Vaan 2008) Walde and Hofmann, and the OLD, connect it with [[grc|τέρυ|tr=téru|t=weak]] and [[sa|तरुण|tr=táruṇa|t=young]] through a form *taru-dos, but de Vaan rejects this on grounds of meaning and form.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary suggests [[ine-pro|*tr̥h₂-d-o-]], from the root *terh₂- “to cross”.^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Plautus compares slow-walking men to cargo ships in a calm sea.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant slow in movement, then of processes long drawn out, of people slow to act, late or tardy, and slow-witted or dull.^(OLD 2012) Terence calls a man “silly, tasteless and slow”, and Cicero asks who is so ''tardus'' as not to see something.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ In medieval Latin it was also used of a slow voice and of slow tempo in music.^(DMLBS) It survives in [[it|tardo]], [[fr|tard|t=late]] and [[es|tarde|t=late]], and Vulgar Latin *''tardīvus'' gave French ''tardif'' and [[en|tardy]] in the late 15th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) [[retardō|alt=Retardāre]] gave [[en|retard]].^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus compares slow men to cargo ships.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a dull man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 15th century – English ''tardy'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # [[m|en|Slow]] (in movement).^(OLD 2012)
+ # Slow, long drawn out.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Slow to act, dilatory.^(OLD 2012)
+ # [[m|en|Late]], [[m|en|tardy]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # Slow-witted, [[m|en|dull]].^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[tarda]]
+ * [[tardicors]]
+ * [[tardigenuclus]]
+ * [[tardigradus]]
+ * [[tardilocus]]
+ * [[tardipēs]]
+ * [[tarditās]]
+ * [[tardities]]
+ * [[tarditūdō]]
+ * [[tardiusculus]]
+ * [[tardō]]
+ * [[tardor]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[en|tardy]]
+ * [[en|retard]]
+ 
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Döderlein contrasts ''tardus'', slowness measured by the time spent, opposed to [[citus]], with [[lentus]], slowness as calm of motion.^(Döderlein 1874)
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}