vocalis Latin · revision 7981

16 Oct 2026, 14:48 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Varro|origins=la vōx}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [woːˈkaː.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [voˈkaː.lis]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''vōcālis''' (neuter vōcāle, adverb vōcāliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[vōx]] “voice” with the suffix [[-ālis]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) As a noun, ⟨vōcālis⟩ “vowel” is short for ⟨littera vōcālis⟩, a calque of Greek [[grc|φωνῆεν|tr=phōnêen|t=vowel]].^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Varro, of having a voice and of vowels.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant having an articulate voice, able to speak, as in Varro, of animals uttering sounds, as Pliny the Elder's birds vocal in song or human speech, and in Seneca of things sonorous.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Horace it meant having a fine voice, and in Tibullus of instruments tuneful.^(OLD 2012) In Varro it meant in grammar of vowels, and in Cicero as a feminine noun a vowel.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant spoken, vocal, speaking.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it as a noun for a church singer.^(Niermeyer 1976) It was borrowed into Italian ''vocale'' and French ''vocal'', and [[en|vocal]] came in the late 14th century, of spoken prayer.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Its noun use gave Old French ''voieul'' and [[en|vowel]].^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of speech and vowels.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a vowel.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a fine voice.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * late 14th century – English ''vocal'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Able to speak; uttering sounds; sonorous.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Having a fine voice; tuneful.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(grammar)'' Of vowels.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|vowel]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A church singer.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[sēmivocālis]]
+ * [[vōcālitās]]
+ * [[vōcāliter]]
+ * [[vōcālēs]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[vōx]]
+ * [[vocō]]
+ * [[en|vocal]]
+ * [[en|vowel]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}