nonnus Latin · revision 6716

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Jerome}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnɔn.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔn.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nonnus''' ''m'' (genitive nonnī, feminine nonna); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a nursery word meaning “daddy” or “nanny”, a reduplication of a nasal with a vowel, [[ine-pro|*nana]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Similar words are [[grc|νέννος|tr=nénnos|t=uncle]], [[grc|νάννας|tr=nánnas|t=uncle, aunt]], [[cy|nain|t=grandmother]], [[sa|नना|tr=nanā́|t=mother]] and [[sq|nënë|t=mother]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The DMLBS compares Late Greek [[grc|νόννος|tr=nónnos]].^(DMLBS)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan finds it in Ecclesiastical Latin.^(de Vaan 2008) Lewis and Short cite Jerome's letters, of monks and nuns.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler's first source is Arnobius, whom he dates 297–310 AD.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a monk, and the feminine [[nonna]] a nun, as in Jerome.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In inscriptions it was a tutor or one who brings up a child, and the plural foster parents.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Medieval Latin it was a senior or respected monk, also as a title.^(DMLBS)

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+ It survives in Italian ''nonno'' “grandfather”, Romanian ''nun'' “godfather” and Spanish ''ñoño'' “dull”.^(Wiktionary) Old English borrowed it as ''nonn'' “monk”.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 297–310 AD – Arnobius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it of monks.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 987 – A letter to Dunstan uses it as a monk's title.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|monk]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # A tutor, foster parent.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A senior monk; a title of respect.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonna]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[anus]]

+ * [[mamma]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}