forfex Latin · revision 5923

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Cato}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɔr.fɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɔr.feks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''forfex''' ''f'' or m (genitive forficis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD takes it as an alteration of [[m|la|forpex]], a by-form of [[forceps]] “tongs”, and de Melo supports a metathesis *forkeps > *forpeks.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan notes that its inner ⟨rf⟩ is irregular in Latin and that a compound in [[m|la|-fex]] “maker” would not normally lose a vowel, so its late date makes a foreign origin likely.^(de Vaan 2008) He also mentions [[xum|furfant|t=they shear?]] and [[grc|πέρθω|tr=pérthō|t=to capture]], from an adjective *bʰrdʰ-o- “capturing, shearing”.^(de Vaan 2008) Servius distinguishes ''forfex'', scissors that cut, from ''forceps'', tongs that hold.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cato, 234–149 BC; de Vaan dates it from Celsus.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant tongs, pincers or forceps, as Celsus' instruction to take hold of a point with the fingers or a forceps, and a pair of shears or scissors, as Columella's for cutting out bad grapes.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Elder uses it of the claw of a crab, and in military language it was a pincer formation of troops.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant shears, a rent paid in shears, and a shearer.^(DMLBS) Its descendants include [[it|forbice]], [[ro|foarfecă]] and [[fr|forces]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of a surgeon's forceps.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of shears for grapes.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Tongs, [[m|en|pincers]], forceps.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Shears, [[m|en|scissors]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The claw of a crab.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(military)'' A pincer formation.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[forficō]]

+ * [[forficulae]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[forceps]]

+ * [[en|forficate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}