nemus Latin · revision 5572

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnɛ.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɛː.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nemus''' ''n'' (genitive nemoris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*nemos-]], from [[ine-pro|*nem-os-|t=what is allotted, sacrifice]], from the root *nem- “to allot”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains the sense “wood, sacred clearing”, shared by Greek, Celtic and Italic, as “sacrifice” > “place of sacrifice”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|νέμος|tr=némos|t=wooded pasture]], [[sga|nemed|t=sanctuary]] and [[sa|नमस्|tr=námas|t=worship]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Isidore derived it from [[nūmen]] “divinity”, because pagans placed their idols there.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Ennius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Accius speaks of the passes through the woods in a mountain gorge.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a wood or forest, often with pastures and glades, and a wood consecrated to a god, a sacred grove, especially the grove of Diana at Aricia, called simply ''Nemus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In poetry it could be bushy foliage.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Britain it was woodland used for pasture or as a source of revenue.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius speaks of passes through the woods.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero names the grove of Diana at Aricia simply ''Nemus''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|wood]], [[m|en|forest]].^(OLD 2012)

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

+ # (poetic) Foliage.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nemorālis]]

+ * [[nemoricultrix]]

+ * [[nemorivagus]]

+ * [[nemorōsus]]

+ * [[nemorēnsis]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes [[silva]], wood as timber, [[saltus]], wild mountain forest, ''nemus'', a pleasant grove, and [[lūcus]], a grove sacred to the gods.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}