singuli Latin · revision 6720

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *sem-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*sem-g-lo-]], from [[ine-pro|*s(e)m-gʰ-|t=single]]: Meiser explains it as containing a distributive particle *-gʰ-, later suffixed with *-lo-.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The root is that of [[semel]] “once” and [[simplex]] “simple”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Etymonline) De Vaan dismisses an older derivation as *sem-ǵno- from the root of “to be born”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose character speaks of men who eat one meal a day.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a distributive it meant one apiece, one each, as Cicero's twelve acres to each man.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It also meant taken separately, individual, as Cicero's arts that each defend themselves, single as opposed to groups, isolated, and single in number.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short note that the singular is only ante- and post-classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The feminine ''singulae'' was the name of a coin, half a ''libella''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant every.^(Niermeyer 1976) Through Old French ''sengle'' the singular ''singulus'' is the source of [[en|single]], recorded in the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of one meal each.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of things taken separately.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of land assigned to each man.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English ''single'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # One apiece, one each.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Taken separately, [[m|en|individual]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Single]], isolated.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Single in number.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(feminine, as noun)'' A coin worth half a ''libella''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[semel]]

+ * [[simplex]]

+ * [[simul]]

+ * [[en|single]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}