robur Latin · revision 5690

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Cato|origins=ine-pro *h₁rewdʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈroː.bʊr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrɔː.bur]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''rōbur''' ''n'' (genitive rōboris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*rouþos|t=red substance]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₁reudʰ-os|t=redness]], from the root *h₁rewdʰ- “red” of [[ruber]], named for the reddish heartwood of the oak.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[grc|ἔρευθος|tr=éreuthos|t=redness]].^(de Vaan 2008) The /ō/ for /ū/ shows that it was taken from a rural dialect around Rome.^(de Vaan 2008) Cato has the older nominative [[m|la|rōbus]], and the nominative in /-ur/ was made after [[iecur]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato, who has the old form ''rōbus''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it from Ennius.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was an oak, and the solid heartwood of an oak or other tree, then any hard timber, as Virgil's split oak and the ''Rōbur'', the lowest dungeon of the Tullianum prison.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) From the hardness of oak it meant firmness and strength of material things, physical strength and vigour, and military strength, the best troops, as Cicero says Caesar's army had more strength through long service.^(OLD 2012) Isidore says ''rōbur'' was used of whatever is firmest in any material.^(Isidore)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''vīs'' and ''rōbur'', inner strength, with ''potentia'' and ''potestās'', outer power.^(Döderlein 1874) It survives in [[it|rovere]] and [[es|roble]] “oak”, and ''rōbustus'' “as strong as oak” gave [[en|robust]] in the 1540s and ''corrōborāre'' gave [[en|corroborate]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato has the old form ''rōbus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius speaks of the strength of stone.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of split oak.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1540s – English ''robust'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|oak]] tree.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The heartwood, trunk (of a tree); hard timber, oak.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Firmness, solidity.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Physical [[m|en|strength]], [[m|en|vigour]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Military strength; the best troops.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Validity.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rōborārium]]

+ * [[roboratus]]

+ * [[rōborētum]]

+ * [[rōboreus]]

+ * [[rōborō]]

+ * [[roborosus]]

+ * [[rōburneus]]

+ * [[rōbustus]]

+ * [[corrōborō]]

+ * [[rōborascō]]

+ * [[rōborātiō]]

+ * [[rōbustē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rōbus]]

+ * [[ruber]]

+ * [[quercus]]

+ * [[en|robust]]

+ * [[en|corroborate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''vīs'' and ''rōbur'' (inner strength) from ''potentia'', ''potestās'' and ''potentātus'' (outward power over people).^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}