amita Latin · revision 7697

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=ine-pro *amma}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈa.mɪ.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.mi.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''amita''' ''f'' (genitive amitae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a diminutive of the nursery word [[ine-pro|*amma|t=mother]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)^(TLL) Compare [[goh|amma|t=wet nurse]], [[non|amma|t=grandmother]] and [[grc|ἀμμά|tr=ammá|t=mother]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Isidore explains it as ⟨alia māter⟩ “another mother”.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a father's sister, a paternal aunt, as in Cicero, Livy and Tacitus, the mother's sister being [[mātertera]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Paulus' definitions ''amita magna'' was a grandfather's sister, and ''amita maior'' and ''amita maxima'' still remoter aunts.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a paternal aunt.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for the wife of one's father's brother and for a father's concubine.^(Niermeyer 1976) Old French ''ante'' gave French ''tante'' and [[en|aunt]] about 1300.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a paternal aunt.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses ''amita magna''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''aunt'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A father's sister, paternal [[m|en|aunt]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''amita magna'', a great-aunt.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An uncle's wife.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[abamita]]

+ * [[amitīnus]]

+ * [[proamita]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mātertera]]

+ * [[avunculus]]

+ * [[patruus]]

+ * [[en|aunt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}