virga Latin · revision 5864

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwɪr.ɡa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvir.ɡa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''virga''' ''f'' (genitive virgae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) It has been derived from *wizg-ā-, [[ine-pro|*uis-g-]], and compared with Germanic words for bundles and sticks, [[non|visk|t=wisp]] and [[goh|wisc|t=wisp]], the only comparison de Vaan finds close enough to inspire some confidence.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) He rejects the old link with the root *uiH- “to weave”, and verbs such as [[lt|vizgėti|t=to tremble]] are too far off in sense.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD calls it doubtful.^(OLD 2012) Isidore of Seville connected it with [[virgō]] through the green age of youth.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, who speaks of a laurel shoot.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a shoot, twig or spray of a tree, as Cato's myrtle sprays kept with their berries, then a rod or stick used for beating, especially the lictors' rods, and a rod as a badge of authority.^(OLD 2012) It was also a line in a diagram, and a stripe of colour on a garment or in the sky.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein counts it among words for twigs as opposed to boughs, [[rāmus]].^(Döderlein 1874) The ''Appendix Probi'' corrects ''vyrga'' to ''virga''.^(Appendix Probi)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant the king's verge or sceptre and the rod of justice.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[en|verge]] “rod, staff” came about 1400, and its sense “edge” grew from the rod of authority marking the bounds of a jurisdiction.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of a laurel shoot.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato speaks of myrtle sprays.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''verge'' is recorded in the sense “rod, staff”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|shoot]], twig, spray.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|rod]] or stick for beating, (plural) the lictors' rods.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A rod as a symbol of [[m|en|authority]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A line in a diagram.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|stripe]] of colour; a partial rainbow.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The king's verge, sceptre.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[virgāta]]

+ * [[virgātor]]

+ * [[virgātus]]

+ * [[virgeus]]

+ * [[virgō]]

+ * [[virgōsus]]

+ * [[virgula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|verge]]

+ * [[en|virgule]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}