iumentum

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Latin

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Italic *jouksməntom, a back-formation from the plural *jouksmənta, from *jungō (to yoke, join) + *-mənta (suffix forming collective nouns). These elements correspond to Classical Latin iungō and -menta.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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iūmentum n (genitive iūmentī); second declension

  1. (zoology) A draft animal, a beast of burden, a large domestic animal suitable for drawing carts and carriages: a cow, horse, mule, or donkey.
    Synonym: veterīnum
    Hyponyms: asinus, bōs, equus, mūlus
    • 1st century, L. Iunius Moderatus Columella, De Res Rustica, Book VI, Preface, Sect. 3:
      Unde etiam iumenta et armenta nomina a re traxere quod nostrum laborem vel onera subvectando vel arando iuvarent.
      And so it is that iumenta and armenta draw their names from the fact that they aid our work either by bringing up burdens or by plowing.
  2. (zoology) Synonym of iūmenta: such animals taken collectively.
  3. (vehicles) A vehicle drawn by such animals: a wagon, a carriage, a cart.
    Synonyms: carrus, plaustrum
  4. (Late Latin) mare, female horse (Lex Salica)[1]

Usage notes

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In Latin, iūmenta are distinguished both from the armenta used to draw ploughs and from weaker domestic animals (pecora) unable to pull heavy loads such as riding horses and donkeys used only as pack animals.

Declension

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Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case Singular Plural
Nominative iūmentum iūmenta
Genitive iūmentī iūmentōrum
Dative iūmentō iūmentīs
Accusative iūmentum iūmenta
Ablative iūmentō iūmentīs
Vocative iūmentum iūmenta

Derived terms

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Descendants

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References

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  1. ^ Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “equa”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volumes 3: D–F, page 233