rex Latin · revision 654

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''rēx''' ''m'' (genitive rēgis, feminine rēgīna); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*rēks]],^(Wiktionary) [[inh|ine-pro|*h₃rḗǵs|t=ruler, king]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) It is cognate with [[sga|rí]], [[sa|राज्|tr=rā́j-]] and the ending [[xtg|-rīx]] of names such as Dumnorix.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The OLD and Lewis & Short connect it with the verb [[rego|alt=regō]] "to rule, direct",^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Etymonline traces both to the root [[ine-pro|*reg-|t=to move in a straight line]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its oldest instance is on the archaic inscribed pillar (cippus) of the Roman Forum, with the dative ⟨recei⟩.^(de Vaan 2008) In literature it appears from Naevius (c. 235–200 BC) on, meaning a [[m|en|king]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the title of the kings of Rome, of Sparta and of foreign peoples, and ''rēx'' alone meant the Persian "great king" or, later, the king of Parthia, while Agamemnon and the Parthian king were "king of kings".^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) After the kings were expelled the word kept a hostile ring at Rome: Cato protests that "no king ever dared to do this", and it was used of anyone who behaved like a despot.^(OLD 2012) It was also the title of gods, above all Jupiter.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Some offices kept the name: the ''rēx sacrōrum'' took over the religious duties of the kings, the ''rēx nemorēnsis'' was the priest of Diana at Aricia, and Nepos uses it for the yearly chief magistrates of Carthage.^(OLD 2012) In comedy and satire a rich patron was his clients' ''rēx'', and children at play called the winner king.^(OLD 2012) The ancients took the leader of a beehive for a king, called the lion king of beasts, and gave the wren the name ''rēx avium''.^(OLD 2012) Late Latin applied it to the king in chess.^(Wiktionary) It continues in [[fr|roi]],^(Köbler 2010) and English borrowed [[en|rex]] in the 1610s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius speaks of the sons of kings.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of despotic behaviour.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses ''rēx'' for the Persian king and for a patron.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro calls the leader of a beehive ''rēx''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace quotes the children's game "you shall be king if you do right".^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder gives the wren the name ''rēx avium''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1610s – English borrows it as [[en|rex]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|king]], sovereign ruler.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(chiefly plural)'' The kings of Rome, and in the plural a royal couple or the royal family.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The Persian or Parthian "great king", also ''rēx rēgum'', [[m|en|king of kings]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # A [[m|en|despot]], tyrant.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A title of gods, especially [[m|en|Jupiter]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''rēx sacrōrum'': a Roman priest who inherited the kings' religious duties, and ''rēx nemorēnsis'', the priest of Diana at Aricia.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A chief magistrate of Carthage.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A rich [[m|en|patron]], in relation to his clients.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The leader of a beehive or herd, the lion as king of beasts, and as ''rēx avium'' the [[m|en|wren]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Late Latin, chess)'' The king.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[interrēx]]

+ * [[rēgālis]]

+ * [[rēgificus]]

+ * [[rēgifugium]]

+ * [[rēgī̆llus]]

+ * [[rēgīna]]

+ * [[rēgius]]

+ * [[rēgnum]]

+ * [[rēgulus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rēgia]]

+ * [[rēgnō]]

+ * [[regō]]

+ * [[en|rex]]

+ * [[fr|roi]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Cicero defines a king as the one man who holds the supreme power of a state, whose rule turns into tyranny once he becomes unjust.^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''Rēx'' was also a cognomen of the gens Marcia, on which Cicero made a pun.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}