passer Latin · revision 5618

16 Oct 2026, 03:03 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Plautus}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpas.sɛr]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpas.ser]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''passer''' ''m'' (genitive passeris); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ Its origin is uncertain.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Schrijver, followed by de Vaan, proposes [[itc-pro|*pattro-]], from [[ine-pro|*pt-tro-|t=flyer, bird]], from the root of [[penna]] “feather”, with a change from the second to the third declension.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Köbler suggests it may be imitative, and Lewis & Short derive it from *panser, from [[pandō]].^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The Appendix Probi corrects the popular form [[m|la|passar]].^(Appendix Probi)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus, who uses it as a term of endearment.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It was a small bird, in most cases taken to be the sparrow, but also other species, such as the pet bird of Catullus' girl.^(OLD 2012) Cicero recalls the sparrows by which Calchas foretold the years of the Trojan War.^(OLD 2012) ''Passer marīnus'' “sea sparrow” was the ostrich, as in Plautus, and ''passer'' alone was a flatfish, perhaps the flounder.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ It survives in [[it|passero]] and Romanian ''pasăre'' “bird”, and Vulgar Latin forms gave [[es|pájaro]] and [[pt|pássaro]].^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it as an endearment.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus writes on his girl's sparrow.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero recalls the sparrows of Calchas.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|sparrow]]; a small bird.^(OLD 2012)
+ # (term of endearment) Little sparrow.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+ # ''passer marīnus'', the [[m|en|ostrich]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # A flatfish, perhaps the [[m|en|flounder]].^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[passercula]]
+ * [[passerculus]]
+ * [[passerīnus]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[penna]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}