libertus Latin · revision 8351

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Law of the Twelve Tables|origins=la līber}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [liːˈbɛr.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈbɛr.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lībertus''' ''m'' (genitive lībertī, feminine līberta); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[līber]] “free” with the suffix [[-tus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary traces it to Proto-Italic ⟨*louðertos⟩, as in Faliscan ⟨loferta⟩ “freedwoman”, from PIE ⟨*h₁lewdʰ-er-tos⟩.^(Wiktionary) Isidore explains it as ⟨quasi līberātus⟩ “as if freed”.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is the Law of the Twelve Tables, about 450 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a freedman, with reference to the master who freed him, his patron.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''lībertus'' is the freedman in relation to his former master, opposed to ''servus'', while ''lībertīnus'' refers to his rank, opposed to ''cīvis'' and ''ingenuus''.^(Döderlein 1874) Isidore adds that the sons of freedmen were called ''lībertīnī'' by the ancients.^(Isidore)

+

+ It was borrowed into Italian ''liberto''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a freedman made heir.^(Döderlein 1874)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|freedman]], in relation to his patron.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[collībertus]]

+ * [[lībertīnus]]

+ * [[līberta]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[līber]]

+ * [[lībertās]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[lībertīnus]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}