alvus Latin · revision 5641

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂ewlo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈaɫ.wʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈal.vus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''alvus''' ''f'' (genitive alvī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[inh|itc-pro|*aulos]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₂eulo-|t=tube, cavity]], with /u/ and /l/ changing places as in [[nervus]] and [[parvus]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[grc|αὐλός|tr=aulós|t=pipe, flute]], [[hit|𒀀𒌑𒇷|tr=auli-|t=tube-shaped organ in the neck]] and [[lt|aulas|t=leg of a boot]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Another explanation takes it from [[ine-pro|*h₂el-|t=to nourish]], the root of [[alō]].^(Wiktionary) Festus derived it from [[m|la|alere]], as the womb that feeds.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, who has people stuff herbs into their stomach, with the word still masculine.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it from Cato.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC and Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the belly, seen from outside or as the seat of the digestive organs, the stomach and bowels, and in medicine the motion of the bowels and excrement.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was also the womb, as Accius' Maia who conceived in her pregnant belly.^(OLD 2012) From its shape it was a beehive in Varro, the hull of a ship in Tacitus, and any hollow or cavity.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ It was masculine in early writers from Plautus to Laberius and feminine later.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Its derivative [[alveus]] “hollow, trough, riverbed” gave [[en|alveolus]], and [[en|alvine]] “of the belly” was taken from it.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the stomach.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of the womb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a beehive.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a ship's hull.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|belly]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The stomach, bowels; the motion of the bowels.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # The [[m|en|womb]].^(OLD 2012)

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

+ # The [[m|en|hull]] of a ship.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A hollow, cavity.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alvārium]]

+ * [[alvārius]]

+ * [[alveus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alveārium]]

+ * [[alveātus]]

+ * [[alveolātus]]

+ * [[alveolus]]

+ * [[venter]]

+ * [[en|alvine]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore defines it as the part that receives food and is purged, quoting Sallust.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}