Ianus Latin · revision 5959

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *yeh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈjaː.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈjaː.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Iānus''' ''m sg'' (genitive Iānī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the noun [[m|la|iānus|t=arched passage]], [[inh|itc-pro|*jānu-|t=door]], [[inh|ine-pro|*ieh₂-n-u-|t=passage]], from the root [[ine-pro|*yeh₂-|t=to go, travel]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sa|याति|tr=yā́ti|t=goes, travels]], [[lt|jóti|t=to ride]], [[cu|ꙗхати|tr=jaxati|t=to travel]] and [[sga|áth|t=ford]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) All old forms are o-stems, but the derivative [[iānua]] “door” suggests an older u-stem, and Festus has a dative [[m|la|iānuī]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The oldest meaning will have been “passage, corridor”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a common noun ''iānus'' meant an archway or covered passage, which Cicero says were called ''iānī'' because they were passages.^(OLD 2012) Janus was the god of gates and doorways and then of beginnings in general, usually shown with two faces.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) The ''Iānus geminus'' or ''Iānus Quirīnus'' was his shrine in the Forum, an arch with doors at each end closed in time of peace, and the ''Iānus summus'', ''medius'' and ''īmus'' were three arches on the Forum frequented by moneylenders and merchants.^(OLD 2012) Macrobius makes him an ancient king of Italy who was deified.^(Gaffiot 2016)

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+ His month, [[iānuārius]], was spelled ''iēnuārius'' in Vulgar Latin.^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero explains the archways called ''iānī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Proper noun===

+ # [[m|en|Janus]], god of doorways and of beginnings, shown with two faces.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The shrine of Janus in the Forum, closed in time of peace.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(lowercase)'' An [[m|en|archway]], gateway, covered passage.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[iānua]]

+ * [[iānuārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|January]]

+ * [[en|janitor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}