infans Latin · revision 693

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈĩː.fãːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiɱ.fans]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnfāns''' (genitive īnfantis, comparative īnfantior, superlative īnfantissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the negative prefix [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and [[m|la|fāns]], the present participle of [[for|alt=fārī]] “to speak”.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The literal sense is “not speaking”, and Varro explains that children are so called before they can speak.^(TLL)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(Köbler 2010) who speaks of nurses looking after [[m|en|baby]] boys at home.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adjective it meant unable to speak, of a child or of statues, and unable to express oneself, tongue-tied, as Cicero says of an accuser with no eloquence.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its main sense was newly born, very young, and as a noun a little child, strictly one not yet able to talk.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Accius uses it once for something unspeakable.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In later Latin it was used of older children, and canon law defined an ''infans'' as a minor under seven.^(Stelten 1995)^(Etymonline) Medieval texts use it for a son or daughter and for a young prince.^(Niermeyer 1976) It gave French ''enfant'' “child”,^(Wiktionary) and through Italian ''infante'' “youth, foot soldier” and ''infanteria'' it is the source of [[en|infantry]]; [[en|infant]] itself was borrowed in the late 14th century.^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of baby boys.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of dumb animals.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for a speechless child and for a poor speaker.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – It means a young prince.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows it as [[en|infant]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unable to speak; tongue-tied, not eloquent.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Newly born, very young; of a baby.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Unspeakable.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|infant]], little child.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(canon law)'' A minor under seven years.^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A son or daughter; a young prince.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[for]]

+ * [[en|infant]]

+ * [[en|infantry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}