fecundus Latin · revision 5462

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *dʰeh₁(y)-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [feːˈkʊn.dʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [feˈkun.dus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fēcundus''' (feminine fēcunda, neuter fēcundum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the stem of [[fētus]] with the suffix [[-cundus]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan counts seven Latin adjectives with this suffix ([[secundus]], [[fācundus]], [[iūcundus]], [[rubicundus]] ...), and suggests the type started from a ''k''-stem verb, so that ''fēcundus'' might go back to [[itc-pro|*fēk-odno-]] and [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-k-]].^(de Vaan 2008) The root is [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁(y)-|t=to suckle]], as in [[fēmina]] and [[fēlīx]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Lewis & Short, citing Varro, call the spellings [[m|la|foecundus]] and [[m|la|faecundus]] mistakes.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Cicero says that nature produced nothing more fertile than the sow.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant productive of offspring, said of women and female animals, and then of anything productive or rich in something, such as land rich in cattle.^(OLD 2012) It was used of what multiplies fast, of a mind that is inventive (Cicero calls Pericles ''fēcundus''), and of things that make others fertile, like the west wind in Catullus.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin ''fēcunda'' could simply mean pregnant.^(Niermeyer 1976) It entered English through French in the early 15th century as ''fecond'', respelled [[en|fecund]] after Latin in the 16th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero calls the sow the most fertile of animals and Pericles ''fēcundus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''fecond'' is recorded, later ''fecund''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (of women and animals) [[m|en|Fertile]], productive of offspring.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Productive (of), rich (in).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Multiplying fast, prolific.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of the mind) Inventive, [[m|en|fertile]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Life-giving, fertilizing.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Pregnant.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fēcunditās]]

+ * [[fēcundō]]

+ * [[īnfēcundus]]

+ * [[perfēcundus]]

+ * [[praefēcundus]]

+ * [[fēcundē]]

+ * [[fēcundātor]]

+ * [[īnfēcunditās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fētus]]

+ * [[fēlīx]]

+ * [[fēmina]]

+ * [[fēnus]]

+ * [[fīlius]]

+ * [[en|fecund]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''fēcundus'', the fruitfulness of living, breeding beings, from [[fertilis]] and [[ferāx]], the fruitfulness of the soil.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}