pyxis Latin · revision 7624

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Cicero|origins=grc πύξος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpyk.sɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpik.sis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pyxis''' ''f'' (genitive pyxidis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|πυξίς|tr=puxís|t=box of boxwood]], from [[m|grc|πύξος|tr=púxos|t=box tree]], a word Köbler and Etymonline call of unknown origin.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline) It is also spelled ⟨puxis⟩, as in Juvenal, and ⟨buxis⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Gaffiot cites Cicero's ''Pro Caelio''.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a small box or casket, first of boxwood, then of other woods and metal, for medicines, unguents and the like, as in Cicero, Seneca, Suetonius and Pliny the Elder.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Pliny it also meant a metal cap on the end of a pestle.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant the pyx or ciborium, the gold or silver vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept or carried.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for a small box and the lunule.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin used it for a chest for money, also for the money used in testing coin.^(DMLBS) It was borrowed into Italian as ''pisside'', [[en|pyx]] came about 1400, and Late Latin ''buxis'' gave Old English ''box'', whence [[en|box]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a small box.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a medicine box.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a pestle cap.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English ''pyx'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small box, [[m|en|casket]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A cap on a pestle.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The [[m|en|pyx]], [[m|en|ciborium]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pyxidātus]]

+ * [[pyxidicula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[buxus]]

+ * [[en|pyx]]

+ * [[en|box]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}