demens Latin · revision 8432

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Naevius|origins=la mēns}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈdeː.mẽːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛː.mens]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēmēns''' (genitive dēmentis, comparative dēmentior, superlative dēmentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[dē-]] “away from” and [[mēns]] “mind”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant out of one's mind, mad, frenzied, insane, and of behaviour, as in Cicero, mad.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''āmentia'' shows itself passively, while ''dēmentia'' shows itself actively and wildly.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ British Medieval Latin used it of mad people and mad actions.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese ''demente'' and French ''dément'', and through French it is behind English ''dement'' “to drive mad”, of the 1540s, and its participle [[en|demented]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

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

+ * 1640s – English ''demented'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Out of one's mind, mad, [[m|en|insane]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of behaviour, mad.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēmentia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mēns]]

+ * [[āmēns]]

+ * [[en|demented]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

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

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}