columen Latin · revision 5823

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''columen''' ''n'' (genitive columinis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*kelamen-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*kelH-men-|t=top, summit]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[osx|holm|t=hill]], [[ang|holm|t=island]] and [[non|holmr|t=islet]].^(de Vaan 2008) [[culmen]] “summit” is the same word, arising from the shorter oblique cases.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) The OLD and Gaffiot connect [[celsus]] “lofty” and [[excellō]], and [[columna]] “column” is related, though de Vaan finds its formation hard to explain.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, who accuses someone of stealing the crown of Jupiter that stands on the top of the Capitol.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the roof or top of a building, the ridgepole of a roof and the coping of a wall, as Vitruvius' list of roof timbers.^(OLD 2012) Poets used it for a mountain summit.^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it was the highest point, the zenith, and, of persons, the keystone of a group, as Plautus' “the pillar of the family” and Cicero's ''columen reī pūblicae'' “the prop of the state”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was also the crowning ornament, as Curtius' “the jewel and star of Macedonia”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Its derivative ''columna'' gave [[en|column]] in the mid-15th century, and Late Latin ''culmināre'' gave [[en|culminate]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of the top of the Capitol.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero calls a man the prop of the state.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of the ridgepole.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''column'' is recorded, from ''columna''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The roof, top (of a building); a [[m|en|summit]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # The [[m|en|ridgepole]] of a roof; the coping of a wall.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (figurative) The highest point, peak.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of a person) A mainstay, [[m|en|pillar]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # The crowning ornament, jewel.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[columna]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[*cellō]]

+ * [[collis]]

+ * [[culmen]]

+ * [[celsus]]

+ * [[en|column]]

+ * [[en|culminate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}