vagus Latin · revision 748

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwa.ɡʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvaː.ɡus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vagus''' (feminine vaga, neuter vagum, adverb vagē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives it from [[itc-pro|*wago-]], possibly [[inh|ine-pro|*Hwog-o-]], comparing Germanic verbs for tottering or wavering, such as [[non|vakka]], [[goh|wankōn|t=to totter, stagger]] and [[ang|wincian|t=to nod]], which could continue a nasal present *Hu-en-g-.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD likewise compares [[non|vakka|t=to totter]] and [[lt|vínguoti|t=to make a detour]], and takes it to be related to [[vacillo|alt=vacillāre]].^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short connected it with [[veho|alt=vehere]] “to carry”, an older view.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is attested from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Lucilius uses it of an exile who must “wander and live outside the law”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its core sense was moving freely from place to place, said of exiles, nomads, flocks and birds,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and the planets were ''stellae vagae'' “wandering stars”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) From this it meant shifting or inconstant, of winds and the sea, and scattered, of troops spread over a wide area.^(OLD 2012) In Cicero and Seneca it described rambling speech and roundabout inquiry,^(OLD 2012) and it was used of rumours without a clear source and of fickle people and lovers.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin and canon law a ''vagus'' was a person without any fixed domicile,^(Stelten 1995) and in medieval Latin the noun meant a wandering minstrel or scholar.^(Köbler 2010) The figurative sense “indefinite” passed to French ''vague'' and [[en|vague]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero calls the planets ''stellae quasi vagae'' and calls a style of speech ''vagum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of the nomadic Gaetulians.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca says a life without a purpose is ''vaga''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – As a noun it means a wandering minstrel or scholar.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1540s – Its French descendant gives [[en|vague]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|wandering|alt=Wandering]], roaming, roving; of nomads, unsettled.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''stellae vagae'': the [[m|en|planet|alt=planets]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Winding, changing direction.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Shifting, [[m|en|inconstant]], as of winds and waves.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Scattered over a wide area; uncoordinated.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of speech or inquiry) Rambling, roundabout.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Haphazard, aimless.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Not definite, not assignable to a source, as of rumours.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|fickle|alt=Fickle]], changeable, wavering.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin, as a noun)'' A person without a domicile, a [[m|en|vagrant]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[arēnivagus]]

+ * [[circumvagus]]

+ * [[flūctivagus]]

+ * [[harēnivagus]]

+ * [[ignivagus]]

+ * [[lūdivagus]]

+ * [[lustrivagus]]

+ * [[montivagus]]

+ * [[multivagus]]

+ * [[mundivagus]]

+ * [[nemorivagus]]

+ * [[noctivagus]]

+ * [[vagor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|vague]]

+ * [[en|vagabond]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}