inimicus Latin · revision 6215

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₃emh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɪ.nɪˈmiː.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [i.niˈmiː.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''inimīcus''' (feminine inimīca, neuter inimīcum, comparative inimicior, superlative inimicissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and [[amīcus]] “friendly, friend”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''Amīcus'' is from [[amō]] “to love”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, whose character says another's wife is hostile to him.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant unfriendly, ill-disposed to a person, and as a noun a personal and especially political enemy, an opponent.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Of words and looks it meant hostile, as Plautus' hostile glance, and in augury belonging to the enemy.^(OLD 2012) Of things it meant harmful, as Cicero's weeds most harmful to crops, and incompatible, as his remark that nothing is so opposed to law as violence.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein distinguishes [[hostis]], a public enemy, from ''inimīcus'', a private one.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was one engaged in a blood feud, and in Christian Latin the Devil.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Italian ''nemico'', French ''ennemi'' and Spanish ''enemigo''.^(Wiktionary) Through Old French ''enemi'' it is the source of [[en|enemy]], recorded in the early 13th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of things harmful to crops.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 13th century – English ''enemy'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unfriendly, [[m|en|hostile]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Belonging to an enemy.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Harmful, injurious.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Opposed, incompatible.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A personal [[m|en|enemy]], opponent.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The [[m|en|Devil]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inimicalis]]

+ * [[inimīcitia]]

+ * [[inimīcō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amīcus]]

+ * [[hostis]]

+ * [[en|enemy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}