castro Latin · revision 5977

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkas.troː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkas.tro]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''castrō''' (present infinitive castrāre, perfect active castrāvī, supine castrātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Most scholars derive it from a noun [[itc-pro|*kastro-|t=cutting tool]], [[ine-pro|*ḱs-tro-|t=knife]], from the root [[ine-pro|*ḱes-|t=to cut]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) Cognate with [[sa|शस्त्र|tr=śástra|t=knife]], [[sa|शसति|tr=śásati|t=cuts]], [[grc|κεάζω|tr=keázō|t=to split]], [[sq|thadër|t=double axe]] and [[cu|коса|tr=kosa|t=scythe]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The TLL also compares [[careō]] “to lack” and [[castus]] “chaste”.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose character threatens to castrate the slaves at home.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to castrate or emasculate, of men and male animals, and also to spay female animals, as Pliny the Elder's sows and camels.^(OLD 2012) Cicero quotes the saying that the republic had been ''castrāta'', unmanned, by the death of Africanus.^(OLD 2012) In farming it meant to thin out or prune plants, as Cato's old vines, to remove the honey from hives, as in Columella, and to dock a tail or reduce something.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin ''castrō'' or ''castrō, -ōnis'' was a gelded ram, a wether.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[en|castrate]] was formed in the 1610s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus threatens to castrate slaves.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of pruning vines.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero quotes the republic “unmanned” by Africanus' death.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1610s – English ''castrate'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|castrate]], [[m|en|emasculate]]; to spay.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (figurative) To unman, weaken.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To thin out, [[m|en|prune]] (plants).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To remove the honey from (hives).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To dock (a tail); to reduce.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[castrātiō]]

+ * [[castrator]]

+ * [[castratorius]]

+ * [[castratura]]

+ * [[excastrō]]

+ * [[castrātus]]

+ * [[prōcestria]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[castrum]]

+ * [[en|castrate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}