truculentus Latin · revision 690

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [trʊ.kʊˈɫɛn.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [tru.kuˈlɛn.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''truculentus''' (feminine truculenta, neuter truculentum, comparative truculentior); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[trux]] “harsh, savage” with the suffix [[m|la|-ulentus|t=full of]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan connects ''trux'', following Hamp, with Proto-Celtic *druko- “bad”, seen in [[mga|droch-|t=bad]] and [[wlm|drwg|t=bad]], which requires an initial *dr- becoming tr- in Latin.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who uses it of a [[m|en|savage]] old man and gave the title ''Truculentus'' to one of his comedies.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant ferocious or aggressive, of people, looks and animals, as in Cicero's description of Piso “how hideous, how fierce, how terrible to look at” or Pliny's tiger, “fierce even among wild beasts”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Catullus uses it of a stormy sea, and later writers of savage deeds, a pallor of rage and a fierce accusation.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short note that it is mostly poetic and post-Augustan.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ As a noun the neuter plural meant fierce conduct or language, as in Catullus' ''truculenta pelagi'' “the savagery of the sea”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) English borrowed it in the 1530s as [[en|truculent]] “fierce, savage”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it and names a comedy ''Truculentus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence lists it among the traits of a harsh old man.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of a stormy sea.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero describes Piso as ''truculentus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1530s – English borrows it as [[en|truculent]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Ferocious, [[m|en|savage]], aggressive; stern, grim.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # (of the sea, natural forces) Wild, stormy.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of actions) Savage, cruel.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[truculentia]]

+ * [[truculentē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trux]]

+ * [[en|truculent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}