pecunia Latin · revision 775

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [pɛˈkuː.ni.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [peˈkuː.ni.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pecūnia''' ''f'' (genitive pecūniae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Older inscriptions, especially public ones, spell it ''pequnia''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[pecu|t=flock, herd]], probably through an unattested adjective *pecūnus “having cattle”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) The TLL calls the link with ''pecu'' certain but the exact formation unclear.^(TLL) ''Pecu'' itself is [[inh|itc-pro|*peku-]], from [[inh|ine-pro|*peḱu-|t=cattle]],^(de Vaan 2008) and is cognate with [[sa|पशु|tr=paśú-|t=cattle]] and [[got|𐍆𐌰𐌹𐌷𐌿|tr=faihu|t=property, money]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ The Romans themselves explained the word from cattle: Varro says that wealth was named from [[pecus]] because the wealth of herdsmen consisted in their flocks.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first record is in the Twelve Tables of about 450 BC,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) where it means [[m|en|property]] in general, in the rule that a man's will about his property is to be law.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The old sense of property or wealth of any kind is still found in Cicero,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Festus records a sacrificial offering of produce called ''pecunia''.^(OLD 2012) From Plautus on, however, the usual sense was [[m|en|money]],^(OLD 2012) including public funds and money given as a bribe.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Pecunia was also personified as a goddess.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In medieval Latin the word again covered property of every kind: real estate or a manor, movable goods, [[m|en|cattle]] and single head of cattle, merchandise and tools.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it for a person's property.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius sets liberty above wealth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for money, as in ''praesenti pecuniā'', “for cash”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro derives it from ''pecus'' “cattle”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace calls money a queen who bestows noble birth and beauty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Early Middle Ages – It is used for land, goods and cattle.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|property]], possessions, [[m|en|wealth]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # [[m|en|money]], a sum of money;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) (plural) funds.^(Georges 1913)

+ # Money offered or accepted as a [[m|en|bribe]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(religion)'' A sacrificial offering of produce.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''Pecunia'': money personified as a goddess.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Land, an estate; movable goods; cattle; merchandise.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Descendants==

+ * Aromanian: [[m|rup|picunj]], [[m|rup|picunjiu]]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pecunialis]]

+ * [[pecūniāris]]

+ * [[pecūniārius]]

+ * [[pecūniōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pecūlātor]]

+ * [[pecūlātus]]

+ * [[pecūlium]]

+ * [[pecus]]

+ * [[en|pecuniary]]

+ * [[en|impecunious]]

+ * [[en|fee]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}