sal Latin · revision 653

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sāl''' ''m'' or n (genitive salis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Ennius and Cato have a neuter nominative and accusative ''sale'',^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) and the singular is sometimes neuter in later authors, but the plural ''sales'' is always masculine.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*sāls|t=salt]], from [[inh|ine-pro|*sḗh₂l-s|t=salt]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains the long vowel of the nominative against the short one of the genitive salis as a trace of the PIE alternation, kept into Latin;^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary compares [[pār|alt=pār, paris]] and [[lār|alt=lār, laris]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[xum|šalu|t=salt]], [[grc|ἅλς|tr=háls]], [[sga|salann]], [[cu|соль|tr=solĭ]] and [[got|𐍃𐌰𐌻𐍄|tr=salt]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) meaning common [[m|en|salt]], as in a scene about sealing a salt-cellar with the salt still in it.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Sharing salt was a symbol of hospitality and friendship: Cicero repeats the saying that many measures of salt must be eaten together before a friendship is complete.^(OLD 2012) The word also meant brine and, in poetry from Ennius on, the sea itself,^(OLD 2012) and Pliny the Elder used it for a flaw in precious stones.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Figuratively ''sal'' was the quality that gives life or character to a person or thing,^(OLD 2012) and especially wit in speech; in the plural ''sales'' were jokes or witticisms.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Horace praises Lucilius for scouring the city with much salt.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The word survives throughout Romance except Vegliote.^(DÉRom) In most of the area it became feminine already in Proto-Romance, as in [[ro|sare]], while Sardinian keeps the old masculine.^(DÉRom)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for salt and as a sign of hospitality.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it for the sea.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato explains how to make white salt.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it for a lively, witty quality.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for wit in speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes mountains of natural salt.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|salt]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) (plural) lumps of salt.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Salt as a symbol of [[m|en|hospitality]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|brine]], salt water;^(OLD 2012) ''(poetic)'' the sea.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A flaw in precious stones.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Liveliness, [[m|en|wit]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) (plural) jokes, witticisms.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Descendants==

+ * Italian: [[m|it|sale]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Portuguese: [[m|pt|sal]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Romanian: [[m|ro|sare]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Catalan: [[m|ca|sal]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Occitan: [[m|oc|sal]], [[m|oc|sau]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Galician: [[m|gl|sal]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Sardinian: [[m|sc|sale]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Romansh: [[m|rm|sal]], [[m|rm|sel]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Friulian: [[m|fur|sâl]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Aromanian: [[m|rup|sari]], [[m|rup|sare]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Old French: [[m|fro|sel]]^(Wiktionary)

+ ** Middle French: [[m|frm|sel]]^(Wiktionary)

+ *** French: [[m|fr|sel]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Old Spanish: [[m|osp|sal]]^(Wiktionary)

+ ** Spanish: [[m|es|sal]]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[salacaccabia]]

+ * [[salārius]]

+ * [[salifodīna]]

+ * [[salō]]

+ * [[salīnum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|salt]]

+ * [[en|salary]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Kinds of salt had their own names: ''sal fossilis'' was rock salt, ''sal marinus'' sea salt and ''sal ammoniacus'' an impure salt found in Libya.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}