flamen Latin · revision 5749

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫaː.mɛn]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflaː.men]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''flāmen''' ''m'' (genitive flāminis, feminine flāmina); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The ending points to an old neuter noun “sacrificial act” that came to mean “priest”, as [[augur]] did; it may continue [[ine-pro|*bʰleh₂(d)-mn̥|t=sacrifice]], comparable only with [[got|𐌱𐌻𐍉𐍄𐌰𐌽|tr=blōtan|t=to worship with sacrifice]] and [[non|blóta|t=to sacrifice]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) The old comparison with [[sa|ब्रह्मन्|tr=brahmán-|t=priest]] is rejected by de Vaan as problematic.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Varro and Festus explained it as [[m|la|fīlāmen]], from the woollen thread of the priests' cap.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Ennius; de Vaan dates it from Varro.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a priest appointed for the cult of one god, especially the three major flamens, the ''flāmen Diālis'' of Jupiter, ''Mārtiālis'' of Mars and ''Quirīnālis'' of Quirinus, and twelve minor ones.^(OLD 2012) Cicero names the ''flāmen Carmentālis''.^(OLD 2012) Under the Empire there were flamens of living and deified emperors and of Rome, as Tacitus says Augustus wished to be worshipped by flamens.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval writers used it for pagan priests and even for Christian bishops.^(DMLBS) [[en|flamen]] was borrowed in the 1530s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero names the ''flāmen Carmentālis'' and ''Quirīnālis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus speaks of flamens of the emperor.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1530s – English ''flamen'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|priest]] of one particular god, ''flāmen Diālis'', the priest of Jupiter.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A priest of an emperor or of Rome (in imperial times).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A pagan priest; a [[m|en|bishop]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[flāmina]]

+ * [[flāminātus]]

+ * [[flāminicius]]

+ * [[flāminicus]]

+ * [[flāminius]]

+ * [[flāmōnium]]

+ * [[prōflāmen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flāminica]]

+ * [[augur]]

+ * [[en|flamen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Flāmen, flāminis'', neuter, is a different word, “blast, gust, breeze”, from [[flō]] “to blow”, as Ennius' north wind with its blast and Virgil's breezes that bear the fleet.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}