mensura Latin · revision 7408

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Caesar|origins=la mētior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [mẽːˈsuː.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [menˈsuː.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mēnsūra''' ''f'' (genitive mēnsūrae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[mētior]] “to measure” with the suffix [[-ūra]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Caesar, of measuring time, and Gaffiot cites Caesar's ''Gallic War'' for measurement.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Caesar c. 50 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant measuring, measurement, of length or area, as in Vitruvius, of quantity and time, as in Caesar, and a system of measurement, as in Pliny.^(OLD 2012) It meant a dimension, size, capacity, a quantity, the length of a period, metrical value, as in Quintilian, extent or degree, and intellectual capacity.^(OLD 2012) It meant a limit not to be exceeded, as in Ovid, a measured quantity or length, and a measuring instrument, as in Cicero, and figuratively a standard.^(OLD 2012) Isidore defines it as whatever is bounded by weight, capacity, length, height, breadth or mind.^(Isidore)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant measure, size.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it of a measure of land.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Italian ''misura'', French ''mesure'' and Romanian ''măsură'', and through Old French ''mesure'' it gave [[en|measure]] about 1200, first “moderation”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of measuring.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a measuring instrument.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of dimensions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1200 – English ''measure'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Measuring, measurement; a system of measures.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A dimension, size; a quantity; a duration.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Metrical value.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Extent, degree; capacity.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A limit; the full amount.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|measure]]; a measuring vessel; a standard.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mensūrālis]]

+ * [[mēnsūrābilis]]

+ * [[mēnsūrō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mēnsūrātiō]]

+ * [[mēnsūrātor]]

+ * [[mētior]]

+ * [[en|measure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}