nomen Latin · revision 655

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnoː.mɛn]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔː.men]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nōmen''' ''n'' (genitive nōminis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*nōmn̥]],^(Wiktionary) from Proto-Indo-European [[ine-pro|*h₃néh₃-mn̥|t=name]] in de Vaan's reconstruction.^(de Vaan 2008) The shape of the root is disputed: de Vaan follows Beekes in positing initial *h₃- on the evidence of Greek and Armenian, and rejects *h₁-, which rests on doubtful Doric personal names, while Wiktionary gives [[m|ine-pro|*h₁nómn̥]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Some scholars connect the root with [[hit|hanna-|t=to judge, to sue]] and [[grc|ὄνομαι|tr=ónomai|t=to blame]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ It is cognate with [[xum|nome]] and [[osc|numneís]] (genitive),^(de Vaan 2008) and with [[sa|नामन्|tr=nā́man-]], [[m|grc|ὄνομα|tr=ónoma]], [[sga|ainm]], [[cu|имѧ|tr=imę]], [[got|𐌽𐌰𐌼𐍉|tr=namo]] and [[hit|lāman]], all "name".^(de Vaan 2008)^(Pokorny 1959) [[en|name]] belongs here through [[ang|nama]].^(Wiktionary) The long ō and the ⟨g⟩ of [[cognomen|alt=cognōmen]] and [[agnomen|alt=agnōmen]] come from association with [[cognosco|alt=cognōscō]] "to know";^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Lewis & Short still derived the word itself from a form with g-.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its grammatical sense "noun" is a semantic loan from Greek ὄνομα.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus (c. 250–184 BC).^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In the ''Captivi'' a character asks a man's name and hears the comic ''Thensaurochrysonicochrysides''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Beyond a personal name, it meant the middle or gentile name of a Roman (between ''praenōmen'' and ''cognōmen''), the name of a people, place or thing, a general term or word, and a title of office.^(OLD 2012) Varro used it in grammar for proper names and then for nouns as opposed to verbs.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Since a name stands for its bearer, ''nōmen'' came to mean fame and reputation, a family, and a nation: ''nōmen Rōmānum'', the Roman people, and ''nōmen Latīnum'', those with Latin rights.^(OLD 2012) In public life it was a name on a list: one "gave one's name" (''nōmen dare'') to enlist, and "brought in someone's name" (''nōmen dēferre'') to prosecute them.^(OLD 2012) In bookkeeping a ''nōmen'' was an entry in a ledger and so a debt, and ''nōmina facere'' meant to lend money.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Hence ''nōmine'' with a genitive came to mean "on account of, by way of, in the name of", and a name could be a mere pretext as opposed to the reality.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it for a title of rank and a legal title, a manner, and with a genitive simply for a person.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for a personal name.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius says kings seek a name through statues and tombs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses ''nōmina'' for proper names in grammar.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''nōmina'' for entries of debts in account books.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian notes that only the freeborn have praenomen, nomen and cognomen.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A personal [[m|en|name]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The gentile name of a Roman, between the ''praenōmen'' and the ''cognōmen''.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The name of a people, place or thing.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # A term or word; a [[m|en|title]] of office.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(grammar)'' A proper name; a [[m|en|noun]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|fame]], renown; reputation.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A family; a nation (''nōmen Rōmānum'', ''nōmen Latīnum'').^(OLD 2012)

+ # A name on a list, as in ''nōmen dare'', to enlist, and ''nōmen dēferre'', to [[m|en|prosecute]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # An entry in a [[m|en|ledger]]; a [[m|en|debt]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(ablative, with genitive)'' On account of, by way of; in the name or by the authority of.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|pretext]]; a mere name as opposed to the reality.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A title of rank; a legal title; a manner.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[agnōmen]]

+ * [[binōminis]]

+ * [[cognōmen]]

+ * [[ignōminia]]

+ * [[nōminālis]]

+ * [[nōminō]]

+ * [[nuncupō]]

+ * [[praenōmen]]

+ * [[prōnōmen]]

+ * [[trinominis]]

+ * [[multinōminis]]

+ * [[omninominis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[onoma]]

+ * [[en|name]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ "My name is ..." is ''mihi nōmen est'' with the name in the nominative or the dative.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Quintilian notes that only a free man has ''praenōmen'', ''nōmen'' and ''cognōmen''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}