pulvis Latin · revision 5862

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpʊɫ.wɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpul.vis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pulvis''' ''m'' (genitive pulveris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*pe/olaw(-is)-|t=dust]].^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan explains it as *pe/ol(V)w-is-, with a rare is-stem perhaps taken from [[cinis]] “ashes”.^(de Vaan 2008) Walde and Hofmann and Pokorny derived it from [[ine-pro|*pelH-u-|t=chaff]], seen in [[sa|पलाव|tr=palā́va|t=chaff]] and [[lt|pẽlūs|t=chaff]], but Schrijver objected that “dust” and “chaff” are not an obvious match.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan thinks this derivation possible through a sense “fine dust”.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD calls it cognate with [[pollen]] “fine flour”.^(OLD 2012) Isidore of Seville derived it from [[pellō]], since the wind drives it.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose character sees a footprint in the dust.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant dust on the ground, the dust of the racecourse or arena, so that Horace speaks of those who love to gather Olympic dust, and of the battlefield.^(OLD 2012) The dust of destruction was used of the remains of the dead, and any ground substance was a powder.^(OLD 2012) Isidore names ''pulvis Puteolanus'', the volcanic earth of Puteoli used to build into the sea.^(Isidore) Ennius and Propertius make it feminine.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it stood for a humble condition or worthlessness.^(DMLBS) Its descendants include [[it|polvere]] and [[ro|pulbere]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus sees a footprint in the dust.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace speaks of the dust of Olympia.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville describes the earth of Puteoli.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Dust]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The dust of the racecourse or arena; the field of exertion.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Dust as the remains of the dead.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|powder]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pulverulentus]]

+ * [[pulvīnus]]

+ * [[*pulvus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[palea]]

+ * [[pollen]]

+ * [[en|pulverize]]

+ * [[en|powder]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}