arma Latin · revision 726

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈar.ma]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈar.ma]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''arma''' ''n pl'' (genitive armōrum); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It goes back to [[itc-pro|*armo-]], from [[ine-pro|*h₂(e)r-mo-|t=fitting]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*h₂er-|t=to fit together, join]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The meaning developed from “what is fitted together” through “tools” to “weapons”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) [[armentum]] “herd” is an independent formation from the same root, and [[ars]] and [[artus]] are also related.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[sa|ऋत|tr=ṛtá-|t=order, truth]], [[sa|अरम्|tr=áram|t=fittingly]], [[grc|ἀραρίσκω|tr=ararískō|t=to fit together]], [[grc|ἅρμα|tr=hárma|t=chariot]] and [[xcl|արարի|tr=arari|t=I made]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who jokes that Vulcan must have made the [[m|en|arms]] a soldier brought home, and Ennius has “all demand arms”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word meant arms and weapons in general, and more specifically defensive armour or a shield, or weapons for close combat as opposed to missiles (''tela'').^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From the weapons it passed to the soldier's calling, to war as an instrument of policy, as in Cicero's ''silent leges inter arma'' “laws are silent amid arms” and ''cedant arma togae'', and to the armed forces themselves.^(OLD 2012) Virgil's ''arma virumque cano'' “I sing of arms and the man” opens the ''Aeneid''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The older sense “equipment” survived in the poets, for farm tools, a ship's tackle and Daedalus' wings.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) In Late Latin the neuter plural was taken as a feminine singular ''arma'' “a weapon”, the source of the Romance words.^(Wiktionary)^(DÉRom) Medieval texts also use it for a coat of arms, and the Italian cry ''all'arme'' “to arms” gave [[en|alarm]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius writes that all demand arms.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus jokes about armour made by Vulcan.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero writes ''cedant arma togae'' and ''silent leges inter arma''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil opens the ''Aeneid'' with ''arma virumque cano''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 6th century – The feminine singular ''arma'' “weapon” appears.^(DÉRom)

+ * Middle Ages – It also means a coat of arms.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|arms|alt=Arms]], weapons, ''ad arma'': to arms!^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Defensive arms, [[m|en|armour]]; a shield.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Weapons for close combat, as opposed to missiles.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Military service, soldiering.^(OLD 2012)

+ # War, fighting, as opposed to peace.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Armed forces, troops; one side in a war.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Natural weapons (claws, teeth); figuratively, means of defence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Tools, equipment; a ship's tackle.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A coat of arms, [[m|en|blazon]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[armāmentum]]

+ * [[armārium]]

+ * [[armentum]]

+ * [[armidoctor]]

+ * [[armifer]]

+ * [[armiger]]

+ * [[armigera]]

+ * [[armilustrium]]

+ * [[armipotēns]]

+ * [[armisonus]]

+ * [[armō]]

+ * [[coarmius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ars]]

+ * [[artus]]

+ * [[rītus]]

+ * [[en|arms]]

+ * [[en|army]]

+ * [[en|alarm]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It is a plural noun, with the genitive ''armorum'', or ''armum'' in Pacuvius and Accius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The sense “herd” belongs to the related ''[[armentum]]''.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}