noun · neutersecond declension
adā̆gium
adā̆gium n (genitive adā̆giī or adā̆gī)
Classical[aˈdaː.ɡi.ũː]Ecclesiastical[aˈdaː.d͡ʒi.um]
Meaning
- proverb, adage
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | adā̆gium | adā̆gia adā̆giōnēs |
| genitive | adā̆giī adā̆gī, adā̆giōnis | adā̆giōrum adā̆giōnum |
| dative | adā̆giō adā̆giōnī | adā̆giīs adā̆giōnibus |
| accusative | adā̆gium adā̆giōnem | adā̆gia adā̆giōnēs |
| ablative | adā̆giō adā̆giōne | adā̆giīs adā̆giōnibus |
| vocative | adā̆gium | adā̆gia adā̆giōnēs |
ădăgĭum, i, n. prob. ad and aio, but acc. to Paul. ex Fest. p. 12 Müll.,
ad agendum apta, applicable to life, suitable for use, I. a proverb, an adage:
vetus adagium est, Nihil cum fidibus graculo, Gell. 1, praef.Origins
Disputed. Weiss derives the term from ad- + *ā̆g- + -ium. According to this theory, the element *ā̆g- reflects the root of aiō (“to say, speak”), from earlier *agjō. The term must have escaped the development of *-gj- > *-jj-, perhaps as a consequence of i-epenthesis before consonantal yod (i.e. a preform *adā̆gijom). De Vaan, however, rejects this proposal, citing the "sporadic" and "late" attestation of this term as justification. Alternatively, De Vaan suggests that the term was derived from adigō (“to drive, force”).
Descendants
- Englishadagium
- Englishadage
- Frenchadage
- Italianadagio
- Portugueseadágio
- Romanianadagiu
- Spanishadagio
In English words that came into English from adā̆gium
- adageadā̆gium