bilanx Latin · revision 6273

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Martianus Capella|origins=la bi-, la lanx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈbɪ.ɫaŋks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbiː.laŋks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bilanx''' (genitive bilancis); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[bi-|t=two]] and [[lanx]] “dish, scale pan”: having two scale pans.^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lewis and Short and Gaffiot cite Martianus Capella, who speaks of a ''libra bilanx'', a balance with two pans.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Late Latin it meant having two scales, of a balance, and as a noun a balance with two pans.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Etymonline)

+

+ In Medieval Latin, also as ''bilancia'', it meant a balance, weighing scales, and figuratively balanced judgement.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) Through a Vulgar Latin *bilancia it survives in Italian ''bilancia'', French ''balance'' and Spanish ''balanza''.^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) [[en|balance]] came through Old French in the early 13th century, first meaning “scales”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 5th century AD – Martianus Capella uses ''libra bilanx''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having two scale pans.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|balance]], scales.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, figurative)'' Balanced judgement.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lanx]]

+ * [[lībra]]

+ * [[en|balance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}