miser Latin · revision 739

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmɪ.sɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmiː.s̬er]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''miser''' (feminine misera, neuter miserum, comparative miserior, superlative miserrimus, adverb miserē or miseriter); first/second-declension adjective (nominative masculine singular in -er)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It goes back to [[itc-pro|*misro-]], and no acceptable Proto-Indo-European source has been found.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) It may be connected with [[maereo|alt=maerēre]] “to grieve”, as the OLD and the TLL hold,^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) and de Vaan mentions a possible preform [[ine-pro|*mh₂isro-]], comparing [[xto|msär|t=difficult]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Lewis and Short also compared [[grc|μῖσος|tr=mîsos|t=hatred]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is attested from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In Plautus it is used of people to be pitied, as in the cry ''perii ego miser'' “I am lost, poor me”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant [[m|en|wretched]] or pitiable, of people and of their tears and cries, and the exclamation ''me miserum'' meant “woe is me”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Applied to events and conditions it meant distressing, and it was used specially of sickness, of poverty and of the pangs of love.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) As a term of contempt it meant paltry, as of a feeble defence or a wretched speech.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval writers used it also as a noun, a wretch or a criminal.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) English borrowed it in the 1540s for a wretched person, and by the 1560s for a hoarder of money.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in laments.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero writes ''me miserum'' and speaks of a wretched defence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a sick side.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1540s – English borrows it as [[en|miser]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|wretched|alt=Wretched]], pitiable, unfortunate, ''me miserum'': woe is me.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Distressing, grievous (of events).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Sick, suffering; lovesick.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ # Poor, wretched in one's circumstances.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Paltry, [[m|en|contemptible]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A wretch; a criminal.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[misellus]]

+ * [[misereō]]

+ * [[miseria]]

+ * [[misericors]]

+ * [[miseror]]

+ * [[miserulus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[miserābilis]]

+ * [[miserandus]]

+ * [[miserātiō]]

+ * [[miserātor]]

+ * [[misertor]]

+ * [[misericordia]]

+ * [[maereō]]

+ * [[en|miser]]

+ * [[en|misery]]

+ * [[en|commiserate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}