fundamentum Latin · revision 6868

16 Oct 2026, 12:43 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la fundus}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [fʊn.daːˈmɛn.tũː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fun.daˈmɛn.tum]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''fundāmentum''' ''n'' (genitive fundāmentī); second declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[fundō]] “to lay the bottom of, found” with the suffix [[-mentum]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) ⟨Fundō⟩ is from [[fundus]] “bottom”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Isidore says it is so called because it is the ⟨fundus⟩ of the house.^(Isidore)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of the foundation of a house and figuratively of a basis.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant the substructure of a building, a foundation, mostly in the plural, as Cicero's ''fundāmenta agere'' and Virgil's ''fundāmenta locāre'', and ''ā fundāmentīs dīruere'' was to raze to the ground.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it meant that on which a thing rests, a basis, and in Varro a fundamental necessity; poets use it of something founded, as Saguntum.^(OLD 2012) Manilius uses it apparently of the nadir in astrology.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant foundation, base, establishment, and Isidore applies it to Christ, on whom the Church is built.^(Stelten 1995)^(Isidore) Old French ''fondement'' gave [[en|fundament]] in the late 13th century, meaning both “foundation” and “buttocks”.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a house's foundation.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''fundāmenta agere''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains it from ''fundus''.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 13th century – English ''fundament'' is recorded, through Old French.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # The [[m|en|foundation]] of a building.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # ''(astrology)'' The [[m|en|nadir]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # A basis, foundation; a fundamental necessity.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(poetic)'' A foundation, something founded.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[fundāmentālis]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[fundāmen]]
+ * [[fundus]]
+ * [[fundō]]
+ * [[en|fundament]]
+ * [[en|fundamental]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}