pinguis Latin · revision 5696

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpɪŋ.ɡʷɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpiŋ.ɡʷis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pinguis''' (neuter pingue, superlative pinguissimus); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008) The earlier form may have been a u-stem *pingu-.^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan rejects the older proposals, a blend of *piHwo- “fat” with a word like [[grc|παχύς|tr=pakhús|t=thick]], or a link with [[opīmus]], and finds most attractive the root *piH- “to swell, be abundant” of [[lt|pienas|t=milk]], which still leaves the nasal unexplained.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary compares [[de|feist|t=fat]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, who orders a fat lamb to be brought.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it from Ennius.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant fat, sleek or plump, of animals and people, as Horace calls himself fat and sleek, and rich in fat, greasy, as Cato's piece of ham not too fat.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Of plants it was luxuriant, of soil rich, of sounds full, of things thick, and of the air thick or cloudy.^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it meant slow-witted, as Cicero says the Thebans were fat and strong because of their thick air, and in later Latin also comfortable or easy.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''pinguis'', fat seen as dull, with ''opīmus'', well fed, and ''obēsus'', overfed.^(Döderlein 1874) It was borrowed as [[it|pingue]], and [[en|pinguid]] “fatty” came from it in the 1630s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Some have derived [[en|penguin]] from it, a doubtful idea.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus calls for a fat lamb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of fatty ham.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero calls the Thebans fat and strong.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1630s – English ''pinguid'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Fat]], plump, sleek.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Rich in fat, [[m|en|greasy]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of growth, soil) Luxuriant, rich, [[m|en|fertile]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # (of sound) Rich, full.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Thick, (of air) dense, turbid.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Slow-witted, dull.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[impinguō]]

+ * [[perpinguis]]

+ * [[pinguāmen]]

+ * [[pingue]]

+ * [[pinguēdō]]

+ * [[pinguefaciō]]

+ * [[pinguēscō]]

+ * [[pinguiārius]]

+ * [[pinguiculus]]

+ * [[pinguitiēs]]

+ * [[pinguitūdō]]

+ * [[pinguiusculus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[opīmus]]

+ * [[macer]]

+ * [[en|pinguid]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''pinguis'' (fat, also dull), ''opīmus'' (well-fed, rich), ''obēsus'' (overfed) and ''corpulentus'' (bulky).^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}