siccus Latin · revision 5679

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsɪk.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsik.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''siccus''' (feminine sicca, neuter siccum, comparative siccior); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It may be [[inh|itc-pro|*siskwo-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*si-sk-u-|t=dry]], from a root *sek- “to dry up”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[mga|sesc|t=dry, barren]], [[ae|𐬵𐬌𐬱𐬐𐬎|tr=hišku-|t=dry]] and [[wlm|hysp|t=dry]], but how this gave the double /kk/ is unclear, so the etymology is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Ernout and Meillet and Pokorny instead connected *seikʷ- “to pour”, as “lacking water”, which de Vaan finds awkward.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato, who says grapes for wine should be gathered ripe and dry.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it from Plautus.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant dry, free from moisture, as dry hands and dry sand, and of hair not anointed.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In medicine it described conditions without discharge, as a dry cough, and dryness as a sign of health.^(OLD 2012) Things lacking their natural moisture were dried up, the dry element among the four, dry winds and air, and liquids dried up.^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it meant sober, “dry” of drink, and of style plain and sober, as Cicero's sound and dry orators.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''siccus'', dry outside, with ''āridus'', dried within.^(Döderlein 1874) It survives in [[it|secco]], [[fr|sec]] and [[es|seco]], and ''dēsiccāre'' gave [[en|desiccate]] in the 1570s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato speaks of dry grapes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of dry sand.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1570s – English ''desiccate'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Dry]], free from moisture.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of hair) Not anointed.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (medicine) Without discharge, dry; healthy.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Dried up, parched, (of winds) dry.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Sober, abstinent.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # (of style) Plain, sober.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[persiccus]]

+ * [[praesiccus]]

+ * [[semisiccus]]

+ * [[siccānus]]

+ * [[siccarius]]

+ * [[siccificus]]

+ * [[siccitās]]

+ * [[siccō]]

+ * [[siccoculus]]

+ * [[siccē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[assiccescō]]

+ * [[assiccō]]

+ * [[dēsiccō]]

+ * [[exsiccātiō]]

+ * [[exsiccātus]]

+ * [[exsiccescō]]

+ * [[exsiccō]]

+ * [[insiccābilis]]

+ * [[insiccātus]]

+ * [[perexsiccātus]]

+ * [[āridus]]

+ * [[en|desiccate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''siccus'' (dry, without external moisture, opposed to ''ūmidus''), ''āridus'' (dried through) and ''torridus'' (scorched).^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}