zathene
Latin edit
Alternative forms edit
- zanthenēs (manuscript variant with n)
Etymology edit
Unknown.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
zathenē gender unattested (genitive zathenēs); first declension
- (hapax) an amber-like gem from Media
- c. 77 CE – 79 CE, Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia 37.70.185:
- Zathenen in Media nasci Democritus tradit electri colore et, si quis terat in vino palmeo et croco, cerae modo lentescere odore magnae suavitatis.
- Democritus relates that zathene comes from Media and is the colour of amber; if it is rubbed with palm wine and saffron, it softens like wax and produces a very sweet smell.
- Zathenen in Media nasci Democritus tradit electri colore et, si quis terat in vino palmeo et croco, cerae modo lentescere odore magnae suavitatis.
Declension edit
Since the term survives only in the accusative singular zathenēn, the declension is hypothetical. Most sources derive the nominative as zathenē, but the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed.) prefers zathenēs.
First-declension noun (Greek-type).
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | zathenē | zathenae |
| Genitive | zathenēs | zathenārum |
| Dative | zathenae | zathenīs |
| Accusative | zathenēn | zathenās |
| Ablative | zathenē | zathenīs |
| Vocative | zathenē | zathenae |
References edit
- “zanthenes”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- zathene in Georges, Karl Ernst, Georges, Heinrich (1913–1918) Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th edition, volume 2, Hahnsche Buchhandlung
- zathene in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
- “zathenēs” on page 1225/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)