lectus Latin · revision 5451

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫɛk.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlɛk.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lectus''' ''m'' (genitive lectī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[itc-pro|*lekto-|t=bed]], from the root [[ine-pro|*legʰ-|t=to lie down]], perhaps a noun *legʰ-tu- or a participle meaning “lain upon”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[grc|λέχος|tr=lékhos|t=bed]], [[grc|λέκτρον|tr=léktron|t=bed]], [[sga|laigid|t=lies down]], [[got|𐌻𐌹𐌲𐍂𐍃|tr=ligrs|t=bed]] and [[en|lie]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In Plautus a character tells how he quietly slipped out of bed.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a bed or couch, for sleeping and for reclining at meals, as in Cato's beds strung with thongs.^(OLD 2012) The ''lectus geniālis'' in the atrium stood for marriage, and it was also the bier on which the dead were carried.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a bier, a reliquary, a coffin or tomb.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives as [[it|letto]], [[fr|lit]] and [[es|lecho]].^(Wiktionary) Medieval Latin ''lectāria'', from ''lectus'', gave [[en|litter]], first “a bed” and “a portable bed”, about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has a character slip out of bed.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato lists beds strung with thongs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''litter'' “a bed” is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|bed]], [[m|en|couch]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''lectus geniālis'', the marriage bed.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|bier]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A reliquary; a coffin, tomb.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lectārius]]

+ * [[lectīca]]

+ * [[lectīcula]]

+ * [[lecticulus]]

+ * [[lectisternium]]

+ * [[lectualis]]

+ * [[lectuārius]]

+ * [[lectulus]]

+ * [[lēctum]]

+ * [[lectīcārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|litter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Lēctus'', ''-a'', ''-um'' “chosen, choice” is a different word, the participle of [[legō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein contrasts ''lectus'', a bed made for people, with [[cubīle]], any natural resting place of people or animals.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}