opifex Latin · revision 9230

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Plautus|origins=la ops, la faciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɔ.pɪ.fɛks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔː.pi.feks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''opifex''' ''m'' or f (genitive opificis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[ops]] “power, resources” or [[opus]] “work” and ⟨-fex⟩ “maker”, from [[faciō]] “to make”.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) The TLL derives it from ⟨ops⟩ in the sense of ⟨opus⟩, and hardly from ⟨*opos⟩.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a craftsman.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a craftsman, artificer, as in Plautus, and in Cicero anyone who works with his hands, a mechanic, artisan, often disparagingly.^(OLD 2012) Cicero also used it of a maker or creator, such as the maker of the world.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ British Medieval Latin used it for a craftsman, a skilled worker, a writer or author, and God as maker.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of artisans and of the maker of the world.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|craftsman]], artificer.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An artisan, mechanic.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A maker, creator.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[officīna]]

+ * [[opificīna]]

+ * [[opificium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[opus]]

+ * [[ops]]

+ * [[faciō]]

+ * [[artifex]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}