pensum Latin · revision 9576

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *(s)pend-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpẽː.sũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɛn.sum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pēnsum''' ''n'' (genitive pēnsī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of ⟨pēnsus⟩, perfect participle of [[pendō]] “to weigh”, used as a noun, the weight of wool weighed out.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Etymonline) De Vaan traces ⟨pendō⟩ to [[ine-pro|*(s)pend-|t=to spin]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a task.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the weight of wool given out to a slave to spin or weave in a day, as in Virgil's ''carpentēs pēnsa puellae'' “girls carding their wool”, and generally an allotted task, a stint, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Isidore derives it from ''pendere'' “to weigh”.^(Isidore)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was a weight; a tax; a rent; and money.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin used it for wool for spinning, spinning, and thread.^(DMLBS) Medieval Latin ''pēnsum'' “a weight” gave Spanish and Italian ''peso'', and so [[en|peso]] (1550s).^(Etymonline)^(DÉRom)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of wool for spinning.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1550s – English ''peso'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A day's weight of wool to be spun.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # An allotted task, [[m|en|stint]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A weight; a tax, rent.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pēnsō]]

+ * [[pendō]]

+ * [[pondus]]

+ * [[en|peso]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}