ferus Latin · revision 5845

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Carmen Arvale|origins=ine-pro *ǵʰweh₁r-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɛ.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɛː.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ferus''' (feminine fera, neuter ferum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*χwero-]], from [[ine-pro|*ǵʰweh₁r-|t=wild animal]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[grc|θήρ|tr=thḗr|t=wild animal]] (Aeolic [[m|grc-aeo|φήρ|tr=phḗr]]), [[lt|žvėrìs]], [[cu|звѣрь|tr=zvěrĭ]] and [[txb|śerwe|t=hunter]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The ending ⟨-rus⟩ was kept, unlike [[vir]], under the influence of the feminine [[fera]] “wild beast”.^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan thinks [[ferōx]] “fierce-looking” may be a source of the suffix [[m|la|-ōx]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from the Carmen Arvale and Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant undomesticated, wild, of animals and birds, as Plautus' free man in captivity is like a wild bird, and of plants and land, uncultivated.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of people it meant uncivilized, rough, then unruly, high-spirited, and fierce, warlike, cruel or inhuman, and of things harmful or dangerous.^(OLD 2012) As a noun ''ferus'' was a wild animal, and the feminine [[fera]] the usual word for a wild beast.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Medieval Latin ''fera'' was the game of the royal forest, especially deer.^(DMLBS) It is the source of [[fr|fier]] and [[it|fiero]], and [[en|fierce]] came from Old French in the mid-13th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus compares a captive to a wild bird.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a rough person.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-13th century – English ''fierce'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Wild]], untamed, (of plants and land) uncultivated.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # (Of people) uncivilized, rough.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Unruly, high-spirited.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Fierce]], warlike, [[m|en|savage]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Cruel, ruthless, (of things) harmful, dangerous.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A wild animal.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fērālis]]

+ * [[ferīnus]]

+ * [[biferus]]

+ * [[efferus]]

+ * [[fera]]

+ * [[feritās]]

+ * [[ferōx]]

+ * [[perferus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[serēnus]]

+ * [[vir]]

+ * [[en|fierce]]

+ * [[en|feral]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}