lancea Latin · revision 7505

16 Oct 2026, 13:59 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=Sisenna}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫaŋ.ke.a]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlan̠ʲ.t͡ʃe.a]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''lancea''' ''f'' (genitive lanceae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is apparently from a Celtic language, and Varro, according to Gellius, says it is Spanish.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Etymonline) Köbler calls it a Celtic loanword, and Wiktionary traces it to Celtic or Celtiberian, perhaps from [[ine-pro|*pleh₂k-|t=to hit]].^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary) The TLL compares Greek [[grc|λόγχη|tr=lónkhē|t=spearhead]], which Festus gives as its source, and perhaps [[sga|laigen|t=spear]].^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Isidore derived it from its balance, ⟨aequā lance⟩.^(Isidore)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Lewis and Short's earliest example is from Sisenna, of the Suebi piercing with lances.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Sisenna 120–67 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant a long light spear, a lance, with a thong at the middle, as in Hirtius and Tacitus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Apuleius it figuratively meant a sharp anxiety.^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein explains that the ''hasta'' and the ''lancea'' were used both for thrusting and throwing.^(Döderlein 1874)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a lance or spear.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for a man-at-arms with his retinue and a measure of length, a rod, and British Medieval Latin for the Holy Lance.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) It survives in French ''lance'', Italian ''lancia'' and Spanish ''lanza'', and gave [[en|lance]] in the late 13th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Late Latin ''lanceāre'' “to wield a lance” gave [[en|launch]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 120–67 BC – Sisenna uses it of the Suebi's lances.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a lance.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 13th century – English ''lance'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A light spear, [[m|en|lance]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|man-at-arms]] with his retinue; a rod (measure).^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[lanceārius]]
+ * [[lanceō]]
+ * [[lanciola]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[hasta]]
+ * [[en|lance]]
+ * [[en|launch]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}