maestus Latin · revision 8435

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la maereō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''maestus''' (feminine maesta, neuter maestum, comparative maestior, superlative maestissimus, adverb maestē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is related to [[maereō]] “to grieve”, formally its participle used in an active sense.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic ⟨*mais-⟩ “sad, grief” and connects it with [[miser]], but finds no acceptable Proto-Indo-European source.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan's first source is Plautus, whom Köbler dates c. 250–184 BC.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of unhappy people.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant unhappy, sad, mournful, and in Cicero showing the outward signs of mourning.^(OLD 2012) Virgil used it of a stern, grim disposition, Cicero of things causing sorrow, and Catullus of words and sounds expressing grief.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant sad, dejected, melancholy.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it of sorrowful people and things.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''mesto''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of grim people.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unhappy, [[m|en|sad]], [[m|en|mournful]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Dressed in mourning.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Stern, grim.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Causing sorrow, gloomy.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[maestificō]]

+ * [[maestitia]]

+ * [[maestitūdō]]

+ * [[permaestus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[maereō]]

+ * [[maeror]]

+ * [[miser]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}