fenum Latin · revision 5660

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfeː.nũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɛː.num]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fēnum''' ''n'' (genitive fēnī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin depends on its spelling.^(de Vaan 2008) The TLL and Leumann take [[m|la|faenum]] as the older form, because of [[m|la|faenisicei]] on an inscription of 117 BC, and then it has no etymology.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) If ⟨ae⟩ is a hypercorrect spelling, as Walde and Hofmann thought, it is [[inh|ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-no-|t=yield]], from the root *dʰeh₁- “to suckle, bring forth” of [[fēcundus]] and [[fēmina]], so “produce, yield”, then “hay”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) Isidore derived it from [[m|la|fos]] “flame”, because it feeds fire.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Cato, who says hay should be cut early, not late.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was hay, cut and dried grass, as in Cato's ''faenum cordum'', late-mown hay.^(OLD 2012) ''Faenum Graecum'' “Greek hay” was the plant [[m|en|fenugreek]], used as fodder and in medicine.^(OLD 2012) Horace's ''faenum habet in cornū'' “he has hay on his horn” warned of a dangerous man, from the hay tied to the horns of vicious oxen.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Every Romance language has inherited it: Old French ''fein'', [[fr|foin]], [[es|heno]], Romanian ''fân''.^(DÉRom)^(Wiktionary) Its diminutive ''faeniculum'' “little hay” gave Old English ''finul'', [[en|fennel]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato tells farmers when to cut hay.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 117 BC – An inscription has the spelling ''faenisicei''.^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace has the proverb of hay on the horn.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # ''faenum Graecum'', [[m|en|fenugreek]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # (proverbial) ''faenum habet in cornū'', he is dangerous.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[faeniculum]]

+ * [[faenisex]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[- dō]]

+ * [[fēcundus]]

+ * [[fēlīx]]

+ * [[fēmina]]

+ * [[fīlius]]

+ * [[en|fennel]]

+ * [[en|fenugreek]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis and Short and the OLD list it under the spelling ''faenum''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}