infra Latin · revision 8330

16 Oct 2026, 16:02 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)”
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cato|origins=la īnferus}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈĩː.fraː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiɱ.fra]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''īnfrā''' (comparative īnferius, no superlative)^(Wiktionary)
+ An inscription has the older form ''infera''.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is a contracted form of ⟨īnferā⟩, the ablative singular feminine of [[īnferus]] “lower”, like [[suprā]] and [[extrā]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler traces ⟨īnferus⟩ to Proto-Indo-European ⟨*n̥dʰero-⟩ “lower”.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation for the adverb is from Cato, “below”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ As an adverb it meant below, underneath, as in Cato, and in Lucretius beneath the reach of the senses, and Quintilian used it for later, further on, and Pliny the Elder for lower in degree.^(OLD 2012) As a preposition with the accusative it meant below, as in Cicero, later than, lower in number, as in Caesar, inferior to, as in Terence, and beneath someone's dignity, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ British Medieval Latin used it for below, further down a page or list, and below the surface.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''fra'', and English uses [[m|en|infra]] in footnotes for “further on” and the prefix [[en|infra-]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it as an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it as a preposition, “inferior to”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of what follows.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adverb===
+ # [[m|en|Below]], underneath.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Later, further on.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Lower in degree.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ===Preposition===
+ # (with accusative) Below.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Later than.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Less than; inferior to.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Beneath the dignity of.^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[infrāforānus]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[īnferus]]
+ * [[īnferior]]
+ * [[īnfimus]]
+ * [[suprā]]
+ * [[en|infra]]
+ * [[en|infra-]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}