grex Latin · revision 733

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɡrɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡrɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''grex''' ''m'' (genitive gregis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It goes back to [[itc-pro|*gʷreg-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*gʷreg-|t=group, herd]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan connects [[kho|haṃ-grīs-|t=to gather]] and, with a reduplicated variant, [[grc|γάργαρα|tr=gárgara|t=heaps, crowds]] and [[lt|gurguolė|t=heap]];^(de Vaan 2008) Beekes takes the Greek and Lithuanian words as independent imitative formations.^(Wiktionary) Others start from [[ine-pro|*ger-|t=to gather]], as Pokorny and Köbler do, and the OLD compares [[grc|ἀγείρω|tr=ageírō|t=to gather]].^(Pokorny 1959)^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) [[sga|graig|t=herd of horses]] and [[cy|gre|t=herd]] are probably borrowed from Latin, according to de Vaan.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is attested from Plautus onwards.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In the ''Trinummus'' a wolf tries to drive off a whole [[m|en|flock]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word meant a flock or herd of animals, often sheep, and also a litter or brood, and poets used it for a cluster of stars.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of people it meant a band or company, a crowd, and with contempt the common herd.^(OLD 2012) It also meant a circle of friends, a troupe of actors, a faction in the Circus, and a social class.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Christian writers used it for the flock of the faithful, and medieval writers also for a religious community.^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976) Its derivatives ''[[gregarius]]'', ''[[egregius]]'' and ''congregare'' gave [[en|gregarious]], [[en|egregious]] and [[en|congregate]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for a flock and for a troupe of actors.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it for a circle of friends.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero writes of herds of cattle and bands of desperate men.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it for the flock of believers.^(Stelten 1995)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – It means a religious community.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|flock]], [[m|en|herd]]; a litter or brood; a group of stars.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A band, company of people; a crowd; the common herd.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A circle of friends, a set.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A troupe of actors.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A faction in the Circus.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The flock of the faithful, a [[m|en|congregation]].^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A religious community, chapter.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[congrex]]

+ * [[ēgregius]]

+ * [[gregālis]]

+ * [[gregārius]]

+ * [[sēgrex]]

+ * [[gregātim]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gregō]]

+ * [[en|gregarious]]

+ * [[en|egregious]]

+ * [[en|congregate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It is usually masculine, but Lucretius and some inscriptions use it as a feminine.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}