lis Latin · revision 6105

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Twelve Tables|origins=itc-pro *slīti-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈliːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''līs''' ''f'' (genitive lītis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from Old Latin [[m|la|stlīs]], probably [[inh|itc-pro|*slīti-|t=accusation, dispute]], perhaps [[ine-pro|*sliH-ti-]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Joseph connected it with [[sga|líthech|t=accused person]] and [[sga|liid|t=accuses]].^(de Vaan 2008) Following Schindler, de Vaan suggests that [[m|la|slīs]], found in one inscription of the 2nd century BC, is older, and that ⟨stl⟩ was a way of writing the rare cluster /sl/, which survived only in archaisms, so that an Italo-Celtic root *sliH- “to dispute, accuse” can be reconstructed.^(de Vaan 2008) The TLL calls the origin uncertain, and Gusmani connects it with Proto-Germanic *sleitan “to split”.^(TLL)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from the Twelve Tables.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates them about 450 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a dispute at law, a lawsuit, as Plautus' character who has lost his case.^(OLD 2012) In general it meant a dispute or quarrel, as Plautus' ''sī quis pugnam exspectat, lītēs contrahat'' “if anyone wants a fight, let him pick quarrels”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) The old form survived in the title ''decemvirī stlītibus iūdicandīs'', the board of ten for judging lawsuits.^(OLD 2012) From it came [[lītigō]] “to go to law” and [[lītigium]] “quarrel”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant a lawsuit, and also a battle or war.^(DMLBS)^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Spanish ''lid'' and Italian ''lite''.^(Wiktionary) [[en|litigate]], from ''lītigāre'', is recorded in the 1610s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of lawsuits and quarrels.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A dispute at law, [[m|en|lawsuit]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A dispute, [[m|en|quarrel]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|battle]], war.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lītiger]]

+ * [[lītigō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|litigate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}