fleo Latin · revision 5506

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *bʰleh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫe.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflɛː.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fleō''' (present infinitive flēre, perfect active flēvī, supine flētum); second conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*flē(je/o)-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*bʰleh₁-|t=to bleat, cry]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[ru|блеять|tr=blejatʹ|t=to bleat]], and perhaps with [[goh|bellan|t=to bark]] and [[non|belja|t=to bellow]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The TLL calls it onomatopoeic.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius, whose epitaph says that if immortals might weep for mortals, the Muses would weep for him.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to weep, cry or lament, as in Plautus “whenever I see the house, I weep”, and as a transitive verb to weep for or bewail someone.^(OLD 2012) The perfect participle ''flētus'' could mean tearful, overcome with weeping.^(OLD 2012) In poetry, as in Lucretius, it was also said of moisture seeping out.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Its derivative [[flēbilis]] “lamentable” gave Old French ''feble'', the source of [[en|feeble]] in the late 12th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius' epitaph says the Muses would weep for him.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has a man weep at the sight of a house.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 12th century – English ''feeble'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|weep]], [[m|en|cry]], [[m|en|lament]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # (transitive) To weep for, bewail.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''flētus'', tearful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[affleō]]

+ * [[dēfleō]]

+ * [[diffleō]]

+ * [[effleō]]

+ * [[flēbilis]]

+ * [[flētus]]

+ * [[īnflētus]]

+ * [[perfletus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flēbiliter]]

+ * [[en|feeble]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein places ''flēre'' between [[lacrimō|alt=lacrimāre]], simply shedding tears from joy or sorrow, and [[plōrō|alt=plōrāre]], loud wailing.^(Döderlein 1874) Seneca writes that one should shed tears for a lost friend, not wail.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}