leo Latin · revision 8346

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Naevius|origins=grc λέων}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫe.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlɛː.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''leō''' ''m'' (genitive leōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|λέων|tr=léōn|t=lion]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Köbler and Etymonline note that the Greek word may itself come from a Semitic language, comparing [[akk|labbu|t=lion]] and Hebrew ⟨lavi⟩.^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Naevius, of the animal.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a lion, and Lucretius calls it ''validus'' and Ovid ''fulvus'' “tawny” and ''magnanimus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In Cicero it was the constellation and zodiac sign Leo, in Pliny the Elder a kind of crab, in Columella a plant name, and in inscriptions a grade of initiate in the cult of Mithras, and Tertullian speaks of the ''Leōnēs Mithrae''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ British Medieval Latin used it for the lion, in the phrase ''in ōre leōnis'' “in the lion's mouth” for great danger, and as a type of vices and virtues.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''leone'', Spanish ''león'' and Romanian ''leu'', and through Old French ''lion'' it gave [[en|lion]] in the late 12th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) French ''dent de lion'' “lion's tooth” gave [[en|dandelion]] in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the constellation.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian mentions the ''Leōnēs'' of Mithras.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 12th century – English ''lion'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|lion]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The constellation and zodiac sign [[m|en|Leo]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A kind of crab.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A grade of initiate in Mithraism.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leōnīnus]]

+ * [[leonteus]]

+ * [[leunculus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lea]]

+ * [[leaena]]

+ * [[leontios]]

+ * [[leopardus]]

+ * [[en|lion]]

+ * [[en|dandelion]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lewis & Short also list a verb ''leō'' “to smear”, given by Priscian as the root of [[dēleō]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}