caterva Latin · revision 5646

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Caecilius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kaˈtɛr.wa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kaˈtɛr.va]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''caterva''' ''f'' (genitive catervae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*kates-wā-]], of uncertain origin.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) It may be cognate with [[xum|kateramu]], perhaps “form a band”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) A connection with [[cassis]] “net” and [[catēna]] “chain”, from an s-stem *kates- “knot, connection”, is possible in meaning.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Lucretius, Köbler from Caecilius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Caecilius 230/220–168 BC and Lucretius 96–55 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a company or band, especially of followers, as Cicero describes a man flitting about the forum with a great crowd of clients.^(OLD 2012) In war it was a band of armed men, especially barbarian troops as opposed to the Roman legions, and more generally a crowd or a large number of anything.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''caterva'', a multitude organised as a limited whole, from ''cohors'' and ''agmen''.^(Döderlein 1874) Medieval writers used it of bands of angels and of animals.^(DMLBS) It was borrowed into [[it|caterva]], [[es|caterva]] and [[pt|caterva]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 230/220–168 BC – Caecilius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius speaks of a crowd of companions.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of crowds of friends.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A company, band, especially of followers.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A band of armed men, a [[m|en|troop]] (especially of barbarians).^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A crowd, mass; a large number.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[turba]]

+ * [[agmen]]

+ * [[catēna]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''caterva'', a crowd in quasi-military order, from ''cohors'', a body following a leader, and ''agmen'', a column on the march.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}