vallis Latin · revision 7307
16 Oct 2026, 13:47 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|attested=Caesar}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwal.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈval.lis]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''vallis''' ''f'' (genitive vallis); third declension^(Wiktionary)
+ The older nominative ''vallēs'' occurs in Caesar and Virgil, the form under which the OLD enters it.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The origin is disputed.^(Wiktionary) It has been connected with [[got|𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌿𐍃|tr=walus|t=staff]] and [[lt|apvalùs|t=round]], perhaps from [[ine-pro|*welH-|t=to turn, roll]], and the OLD compares [[volvō]] “to roll”, but de Vaan finds this phonetically implausible.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Prósper defends a derivation from such a root, which would relate it to [[vāllum]] “rampart”.^(Wiktionary) Köbler gives [[ine-pro|*wel-|t=to turn, wind]].^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD notes the older nominative ''vallēs'' in Caesar's ''Gallic War''.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Caesar c. 50 BC and Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a valley, vale, as in Caesar and Cicero's ''Republic''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it meant a hollow, cavity, as in Catullus and Ausonius.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ It survives in Catalan ''vall'' and Old French ''val'', and through Old French it gave [[en|vale]] in the early 14th century and, from ''valee'', [[en|valley]] about 1300.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar has the form ''vallēs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of a hollow.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 1300 – English ''valley'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|valley]], vale.^(OLD 2012)
+ # A hollow, cavity.^(Gaffiot 2016)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[convallis]]
+ * [[vallestria]]
+ * [[vallicula]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[vāllum]]
+ * [[en|valley]]
+ * [[en|vale]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}