infimus Latin · revision 9432

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *n̥dʰér}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈĩː.fɪ.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiɱ.fi.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnfimus''' (superlative, feminine īnfima, neuter īnfimum); first/second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Also ''infumus''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the superlative of [[īnferus]] “lower”, [[inh|itc-pro|*enðemos]], [[inh|ine-pro|*n̥dʰm̥Hó-|t=lowest]], from [[m|ine-pro|*n̥dʰér|t=below]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The other superlative is [[īmus]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, ''infumātīs infimus'' “lowest of the low” at table.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant lowest in position, bottommost, as in Cicero; deepest, the depths; furthest down on a page; at table, the lowest place; of fingers, furthest from the thumb, as in Apuleius.^(OLD 2012) Of rank or circumstances it meant humblest, lowest, as in Cicero; of people vilest, and of the populace its meanest part, as in Terence; of prices lowest, as in Livy.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant lowest, meanest, of the lower world.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin ''lēx infima'' was the lower jurisdiction.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin also used it of the lowest tide and the lowest pitch.^(DMLBS) It survives in Italian ''infimo'' and French ''infime''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of the vilest.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of position and rank.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lowest, [[m|en|bottommost|alt=Bottommost]]; deepest.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Humblest; vilest, [[m|en|meanest]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of prices) Lowest.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' ''lēx infima'' lower [[m|en|jurisdiction]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[infimitas]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[īmus]]

+ * [[īnferior]]

+ * [[īnfrā]]

+ * [[īnferus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}