triquetrus Latin · revision 6717

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=compound|attested=Lucretius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈtrɪ.kʷɛ.trʊs], [trɪˈkʷɛt.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtriː.kʷe.trus], [triˈkʷɛt.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''triquetrus''' (feminine triquetra, neuter triquetrum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The second element is unclear.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan considers *tri-quadro-, with a noun *quadro- “rectangle, angle” (compare [[quadrus]]), though the sound changes would point to an early date, or a form of [[quater]] “four times”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Walde and Hofmann derive it from the root of Germanic *χwat- “to whet, sharpen”, as in [[en|whet]], which is phonologically possible but semantically difficult.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Lucretius, who speaks of shapes some triangular, others square.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler's first source is Cicero.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant three-cornered, triangular, as Caesar's Britain, an island triangular in shape, and Columella's triangular field.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In astronomy it described bodies a third of the zodiac apart, at an angle of 120°.^(OLD 2012) In poetry it meant Sicilian, from the shape of Sicily.^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Medieval Latin, as ''triquadrus'', it meant tripartite, of the world with its three continents, and ''Triquetra'' was a name for Sicily.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of triangular shapes.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar describes Britain as triangular.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of a field.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Three-cornered, [[m|en|triangular]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' In trine aspect, 120° apart.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(poetic)'' [[m|en|Sicilian]].^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quattuor]]

+ * [[quadrus]]

+ * [[quater]]

+ * [[en|whet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}