paelex Latin · revision 6032

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpae̯.ɫɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɛː.leks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''paelex''' ''f'' (genitive paelicis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) It is usually compared with [[grc|παλλακή|tr=pallakḗ|t=concubine]], [[sga|airech|t=a kind of concubine]] and [[ae|pairikā-|t=witch]], but de Vaan points out that none of their forms matches the Latin.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Saalfeld and Gaffiot take it as borrowed from [[grc|πάλλαξ|tr=pállax]].^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Gaffiot 2016) De Vaan mentions a guess from [[paedor]] “filth”, and Levin's view that it was borrowed from a Mediterranean language, perhaps Semitic, comparing [[hbo|פילגש|tr=pileḡeš|t=concubine]].^(de Vaan 2008) The spelling [[m|la|pellex]] reflects a popular link with [[pelliciō]] “to entice”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

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

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a mistress installed as a rival to a wife, or in addition to her, a concubine of a married man.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lucan applies it scornfully to a second wife, and Seneca and Martial to the nightingale, Philomela, rival of her sister.^(OLD 2012) The spellings ''pēlex'' and ''pellex'' are also found.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant a man's sexual partner who was not his wife, often as a rival to the wife.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of the nightingale.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|mistress]] who rivals a wife; a [[m|en|concubine]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(scornful)'' A second wife.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paelicātus]]

+ * [[pēlicātus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}