merus Latin · revision 8133

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=itc-pro *mero-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmɛ.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛː.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''merus''' (feminine mera, neuter merum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*mero-]], perhaps from [[ine-pro|*merH-o-|t=remaining, pure]].^(de Vaan 2008) It has traditionally been compared with [[grc|μαρμαίρω|tr=marmaírō|t=to flash, sparkle]], as if “pure” came from “shining”, but de Vaan sees no compelling reason for this.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) He prefers Puhvel's connection with [[hit|marri|t=just so, at random]], and takes the original sense of the root to be “remaining, core, pure”.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD also compares [[ang|āmerian|t=to purify]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of pure metal and of undiluted wine.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant pure, unalloyed, of metals, and undiluted, neat, of liquids, above all wine, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012) Festus, as Paul's epitome reports, says the ancients used ''merum'' for “only”, while it now meant “pure”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) From Plautus it also meant sheer, out-and-out, and in Terence nothing more than, mere; in Juvenal it meant bare, naked.^(OLD 2012) Petronius has ''merō merīdiē'' “at high noon”.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Medieval Latin used ''merus'' for an allowance of neat wine.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin applied it to unmixed descent and to a body untouched by intercourse.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese ''mero'', and through Old French ''mier'' and directly from Latin it gave [[en|mere]] in the late 14th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of pure metal and neat wine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it in the sense “mere”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses it in the sense “bare”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Pure]], unalloyed.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of wine, [[m|en|undiluted]], neat.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Sheer, absolute, out-and-out.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Nothing more than, [[m|en|mere]]; bare, naked.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[merum]]

+ * [[submerus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mora]]

+ * [[en|mere]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The neuter ''merum'' is used as a noun for unmixed wine.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}