laevus Latin · revision 5731

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *leh₂iwo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫae̯.wʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlɛː.vus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''laevus''' (feminine laeva, neuter laevum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*laiwo-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*leh₂i-wo-|t=left]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[grc|λαιός|tr=laiós|t=left]] and [[cu|лѣвъ|tr=lěvŭ|t=left]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The first meaning may have been “curved”, as Servius uses it of cattle whose horns point to the ground, while Steinbauer instead derives it from *leh₂- “to hide” of [[lateō]], “the hidden hand”, like [[scaevus]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose soldier rests his left hand on his left thigh.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it from Ennius.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC and Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant left, of parts of the body, and in ''laeva manus'' and the noun [[laeva]] the left hand or left side, as Plautus' crow croaking on the left.^(OLD 2012) It was used of what lies or comes from the left, and then of what is unfavourable or harmful, as Horace's untimely interruption and Virgil's Sirius saddening the sky with baleful light.^(OLD 2012) In augury the left could be lucky, following Roman rather than Greek practice.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Döderlein says ''sinister'' was the usual prose word and ''laevus'' the poetic one.^(Döderlein 1874) Science took it as [[en|levo-]] “turning to the left”, as in [[en|levulose]] (1865).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of a crow on the left.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of an unlucky moment.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil speaks of Sirius' baleful light.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1865 – English ''levulose'' is coined from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Left]], on the left side.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''laeva manus'', the left hand or side, ''in laevum'', to the left.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Lying on or coming from the left.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Unfavourable, [[m|en|unpropitious]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Baleful, harmful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[laeva]]

+ * [[laevē]]

+ * [[Laevinus]]

+ * [[Laevius]]

+ * [[laevorsum]]

+ * [[ambi-]]

+ * [[lateō]]

+ * [[scaevus]]

+ * [[sinister]]

+ * [[en|levulose]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''sinister'', the ordinary prose word for “left”, from ''laevus'', the choice poetic word.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}