ianua Latin · revision 6842

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *yeh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈjaː.nu.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈjaː.nu.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''iānua''' ''f'' (genitive iānuae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[iānus]] “arched passage”, perhaps an old plural of a u-stem [[itc-pro|*jānu-|t=door]], [[ine-pro|*yeh₂-n-u-|t=passage]], from the root [[ine-pro|*yeh₂-|t=to go]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan thinks the first meaning was “passage, corridor”.^(de Vaan 2008) Isidore of Seville derived it from the god [[Iānus]], to whom the pagans dedicated every entrance and exit.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Ennius.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD cites Plautus, who orders dung to be cleared from the door.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the door of a house or building, a doorway, as Cicero's closing of the door.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) By transfer it meant the means of access to a place, a gateway, as Cicero's gateway of Asia, and was applied to the mouth or the senses as the way into the mind.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein says [[ōstium]] is any door, while ''iānua'' is the house door, the entrance.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was also a water-gate, a leap-gate and the gate of heaven.^(DMLBS) [[en|janitor]] comes from its derivative ''iānitor'' “doorkeeper”, first in the 1580s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a house door.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero calls a city the gateway of Asia.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1580s – English ''janitor'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|door]], doorway.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A means of access, [[m|en|gateway]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[iānitor]]

+ * [[ianitrīx]]

+ * [[iānus]]

+ * [[iānuārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|janitor]]

+ * [[en|January]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}