proper noun · masculinefirst declension
Mosa
Mosa m sg (genitive Mosae)
Classical[ˈmɔ.sa]Ecclesiastical[ˈmɔː.s̬a]
Meaning
- masculinesingularMeuse (a river in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, Europe)
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | Mosa | — |
| genitive | Mosae | — |
| dative | Mosae | Mosīs |
| accusative | Mosam | — |
| ablative | Mosā | Mosīs |
| vocative | Mosa | — |
Mŏsa, ae, m.,
I. a river in Belgic Gaul, now the Meuse or Maas, Caes. B. G. 4, 9 fin.; 4, 10 init.; Plin. 4, 14, 28, § 100; Tac. A. 2, 6; id. H. 4, 28; 5, 23.
Origins
From Celtic, deriving from Proto-Celtic *mosā, of uncertain origin; possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mā- (“to stupefy”) in the sense of the river's tortuousness, cognate with Proto-Germanic *masōną (“to confound, be weary, dream”) (modern English maze), Welsh mydu (“to vault, arch”), Old Norse meis (“curvatura”). Or, Albrecht Greule writes that it could perhaps be from *meh₂d-, whence Latin madeō (“to be wet”) and Ancient Greek μεστός (mestós, “full”). Compare also Proto-Germanic *Masō (Dutch Maas), presumably from the same source.
Descendants
- CatalanMosa
- FrenchMeuse
- EnglishMeusefrom French Meuse
- ItalianMosa
- PortugueseMosa
- SpanishMosa
- LuxembourgishMeusefrom French Meuse
- SwedishMeusefrom French Meuse
- WalloonMoûze
In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries
GeographyMosaMosa (Maas), a river of Gallia, which Caesar supposed to rise in the Vosegus (Vosges) within the limits of the Lingones. (B. G. 4.10.) This passage of…GeographyMosaMosa in Gallia is placed by the Antonine Itin. between Andomatunum (Langres) and Tullum (Toul). It is 18 M. P. from Andomatunum to Meosa, which is sup…