semen Latin · revision 9969

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *séh₁mn̥}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈseː.mɛn]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛː.men]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sēmen''' ''n'' (genitive sēminis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*sēmn̥|t=seed]], [[inh|ine-pro|*séh₁mn̥|t=seed]], from the root of [[serō|alt=serō]] “to sow”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD analyses it as ⟨se-⟩ of ⟨serō⟩ with the suffix [[m|la|-men]].^(OLD 2012) Cognate with Oscan ⟨seemuneí⟩ and Paelignian ⟨semunu⟩, names of a deity, [[lt|sė́menys|t=linseed]], [[cu|сѣмѧ|tr=sěmę|t=seed]] and [[got|𐍃𐌰𐌹𐌰𐌽|tr=saian|t=to sow]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan has the verb ''serō'' from Plautus, and the OLD's earliest citations for the noun are Cato, of seed, and Plautus, of sperm.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC and Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was the seed of plants, collectively, as in Cato, and anything planted to propagate, a slip or cutting; in Columella it was the grain of emmer wheat.^(OLD 2012) In animals it was semen, sperm, and in Varro parentage, descent.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Virgil uses it of the elements of matter, and Cicero figuratively of the seed or spark of a quality or feeling.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it means seed, offspring, descendant.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used the plural ''sēmina'' for the sowing and land sown.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives as Italian ''seme'', and English ''semen'' (late 14th century) is from it.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of seed and cuttings.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of descent.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the elements of matter.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''semen'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|seed|alt=Seed]] of plants.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A slip, [[m|en|cutting]] or other plant material for propagation.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|semen|alt=Semen]], sperm.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Parentage, [[m|en|descent]], stock.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An [[m|en|element]] of matter.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A [[m|en|germ]], spark (of a quality or feeling).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, plural)'' Sowing, sown land.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sēminālis]]

+ * [[sēminārius]]

+ * [[sēminium]]

+ * [[sēminō]]

+ * [[sēminōsus]]

+ * [[sēmentifer]]

+ * [[sēmentis]]

+ * [[sēminārium]]

+ * [[sēminātiō]]

+ * [[sēminātor]]

+ * [[sēminifer]]

+ * [[sēminiverbius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[serō]]

+ * [[sator]]

+ * [[Sāturnus]]

+ * [[en|semen]]

+ * [[en|seminary]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore of Seville defined it as what is cast from the earth or the womb to produce fruit or offspring.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}