persona Latin · revision 7668

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=Plautus|origins=ett 𐌘𐌄𐌓𐌔𐌖}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [pɛrˈsoː.na]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [perˈsɔː.na]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''persōna''' ''f'' (genitive persōnae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is unknown.^(Wiktionary) The OLD calls it perhaps Etruscan, and the TLL a foreign word, since it can hardly be explained in Latin, usually connected for its first sense “mask” with [[bor|ett|𐌘𐌄𐌓𐌔𐌖|tr=φersu|t=mask, masked figure]], twice written beside a masked figure.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Gabius Bassus, in Gellius, derived it from [[personō]] “to sound through”, with a lengthened vowel.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's earliest citation for a mask is from Lucretius.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a mask, especially an actor's, which Cicero says the actor's eyes blazed through, in Pliny the Elder a mouth guard and a stone face, a gargoyle.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) From Cicero it meant a character in a play, ''persōna mūta'' a mute part, a character in a speech or dialogue, and in Seneca a pretence.^(OLD 2012) In Cicero it meant the part one plays in life, a role, one's own personality, a party to a case, a person of rank, and an individual person.^(OLD 2012) In Varro it meant a grammatical person.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein contrasts the artful ''persōna'' with the frightful ''larva''.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a person, character, mask, and a person of the Trinity.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for an individual, a person of servile status, and a dignitary, a parson.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) It survives in Italian ''persona'' and French ''personne'', and Late Latin ''persōnālis'' gave [[en|personal]] in the late 14th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a grammatical person.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a mask.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a role and of a person.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''personal'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|mask]]; a gargoyle.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A character in a play; a mute part; a pretence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A role in life; personal qualities.^(OLD 2012)

+ # One's own self, [[m|en|personality]], ''suā persōnā'', in one's own name.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A party to a case; a [[m|en|personage]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # An individual [[m|en|person]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(grammar)'' A person.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A dignitary; a [[m|en|parson]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[persolla]]

+ * [[persōnālis]]

+ * [[personatiue]]

+ * [[persōnātus]]

+ * [[persōnīna]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|person]]

+ * [[en|personal]]

+ * [[en|parson]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[larva]], a grotesque, frightful mask.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}