adonium

Latin

Alternative forms

(type of meter): adōnidium

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἀδώνιος (Adṓnios, “of Adonis”) and Ἄδωνις (Ádōnis, “Adonis”). The meaning referring to a plant is a misreading in Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia. The meaning referring to meter, μέτρον (métron, “meter”) Ἀδώνιον (Adṓnion), reportedly named for its use in the festival of Adonis.

Pronunciation

(Classical) IPA^(key): /aˈdoː.ni.um/, [aˈdoː.ni.ũ]

Noun

adōnium n (genitive adōniī or adōnī); second declension

(botanical)
1. (possibly) a type of southernwood with a golden or bloodred flower (as if referring to the blood of Adonis)
2. (possibly) a method of gardening
(grammar, meter, verse) a Adonic verse, a verse composed of a dactyl and spondee

Usage notes

The precise meaning of adōnium as a botanical term is uncertain, though multiple meanings have been proposed.

Declension

Second declension.

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	adōnium	adōnia
genitive	adōniī adōnī¹	adōniōrum
dative	adōniō	adōniīs
accusative	adōnium	adōnia
ablative	adōniō	adōniīs
vocative	adōnium	adōnia

¹Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

References

adōnium in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
adonium in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
adonium in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette

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