fulcio Latin · revision 6133

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfʊɫ.ki.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈful̠ʲ.t͡ʃi.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fulciō''' (present infinitive fulcīre, perfect active fulsī, supine fultum); fourth conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is unclear.^(de Vaan 2008) It is often linked with [[grc|φάλκης|tr=phálkēs|t=rib of a ship]], [[grc|φάλαγξ|tr=phálanx|t=beam]] and [[goh|balko|t=beam]], and through them with the root [[ine-pro|*bʰelǵʰ-|t=to swell]], which gave words for “beam” in Baltic, such as [[lt|balžiena|t=long beam]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan finds the link between “prop” and “swell” unclear, and notes that the velar suffixes do not match, so at most a root *bʰel- with different suffixes can be posited.^(de Vaan 2008) [[fulcrum]] goes back to *fulk-(t)lo- and the perfect [[m|la|fulsī]] to *fulk-s-.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose character is propped up comfortably.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to hold up, support, prop, as a vine that falls to the ground unless supported in Cicero, to brace a door with a bar, and to prop a person on cushions.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It could also mean to press down, tread.^(OLD 2012) Of the body it meant to strengthen, fortify, as Lucretius' food that sustains everything, and by transfer to support a state or a friend, with money or with encouragement, as Cicero's knight whom a friend kept from falling.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein contrasts ''fulcīrī'', to prop oneself so as not to fall, with [[nītor]], to lean in order to climb or move forward.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ [[en|fulcrum]] was taken from its derivative in the 1670s, first in mechanics.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of propping a person up.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of food sustaining the body.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of supporting a vine and a friend.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1670s – English ''fulcrum'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hold up, [[m|en|support]], [[m|en|prop]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To press down, tread.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To strengthen, fortify (the body).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To support, sustain.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[circumfulcio]]

+ * [[confulciō]]

+ * [[effultus]]

+ * [[fulcīmen]]

+ * [[fulcīmentum]]

+ * [[fulcipedia]]

+ * [[fulcrum]]

+ * [[fulmentum]]

+ * [[fultor]]

+ * [[fultūra]]

+ * [[infulciō]]

+ * [[offulciō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|fulcrum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}