prima vera

Latin

Etymology

From the plural of prīmum vēr, turned into a feminine noun. Attested in Late Latin glosses. Originally referred to the early part of spring, but eventually took on the general sense of 'spring' in all descendant languages, some later than others. This semantic shift pushed the derivatives of Vulgar Latin *vēra and *vērānum, which had originally meant 'spring', into taking on the sense of 'summer' in Iberia and the Balkans respectively.

Noun

prīma vēra f (genitive prīmae vērae); first declension (Late Latin)

early spring

Descendants

Balkan Romance:
- Aromanian: primuvearã, prumuvearã, primãvearã, prãmviare
- Romanian: primăvară
Italo-Romance:
- Italian: primavera
  - →? Sicilian: primavera
- Neapolitan: primmavèra
Rhaeto-Romance:
- Friulian: primevere
- Romansch: primavaira, permavera, prümavaira
Gallo-Romance:
- Old French: primevoire, primevoile, prime vere (“spring”)
  - French: primevère (“primrose flower”)
Occitano-Romance:
- Catalan: primavera
- Old Occitan: primavera
  - Gascon: primavèra
  - ⇒ Occitan: prima (shortening)
Ibero-Romance:
- Asturian: primavera
- Old Galician-Portuguese: primavera (“early spring”)
  - Galician: primavera (“spring”)
  - Portuguese: primavera (“spring”)
- Old Spanish: primavera (“early spring”)
  - Spanish: primavera (“spring”)
Ancient borrowings:
- → Albanian: pranverë (partial calque)

References

Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “ver”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), volumes 14: U–Z, page 272

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