fetus Latin · revision 5463

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *dʰeh₁(y)-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fētus''' ''m'' (genitive fētūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|itc-pro|*fēto-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-to-|t=having given birth]], from the root [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁(y)-|t=to suckle]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The fourth-declension noun is either [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-tu-]] or a Latin action noun in [[-tus]] from the same base.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) The same root is in [[fēmina]], [[fēcundus]], [[fēlīx]] and [[fīlius]], and outside Latin in [[sa|धयति|tr=dháyati|t=sucks]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The spelling [[m|la|foetus]] is incorrect.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates the adjective from Ennius, whose she-wolf is ''fēta'', having just whelped.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Plautus uses the noun.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC and Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Risch showed that the adjective first meant having given birth, of animals with a young brood, and only by metaphor “fertilized, fertile”, said of the earth and plants.^(de Vaan 2008) Later authors such as Columella use it for “pregnant”.^(OLD 2012) The noun meant the bringing forth of young, laying of eggs, then the bearing of fruit, and finally that which is born, offspring, a brood or a crop.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval writers in Britain still used ''fēta'' of breeding cattle and of a virgin who gave birth.^(DMLBS) English took ''fetus'' as “the young in the womb or egg” in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the noun of giving birth.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius calls the she-wolf ''fēta''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses ''fēta'' of a pregnant sow.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''fetus'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The bringing forth of young, [[m|en|birth]], (of birds) laying.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The bearing of fruit (by plants or the earth).^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Offspring]], young, brood; a crop.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (of animals) Having recently given birth.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Pregnant]], with young.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Fruitful, productive.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fēta]]

+ * [[fētifer]]

+ * [[fētificō]]

+ * [[fētificus]]

+ * [[fētō]]

+ * [[effētus]]

+ * [[fētālia]]

+ * [[fētōsus]]

+ * [[fētūra]]

+ * [[ārdifētus]]

+ * [[fētūrātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fēlīx]]

+ * [[fēllo]]

+ * [[fēmina]]

+ * [[fēnum]]

+ * [[fēnus]]

+ * [[fīlia]]

+ * [[fīlius]]

+ * [[fēcundus]]

+ * [[en|fetus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein says that ''fētus'' is used of pregnancy in animals, [[gravidus]] of women, and [[praegnāns]] of both.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}