The second syllable shows no vowel weakening, even though*-e- in medial open syllables usually became Latin-i-. The-e- might have been retained by analogical influence from the antonymsen-(“old man”), or alternatively, from the suffixed formsiuventūs,iuventās.[2]
In classical Latin, the age of aiuvenis ranged approximately from 20 to 40. In medieval Latin, the classical definition continued to be used, but the word could sometimes refer instead to younger ages such as 14-19, overlapping with the sense of classical Latinadulēscēns or evenpuer.[3]
In Classical Latin, this adjective often implies a more specific phase of life than merely 'not yet old', typically referring to young adults rather than infants or children (which might instead be described asrecēns orparvus). See the note beneath the noun for more details on the typical age range when applied to a human. There are attestations in Imperial Latin that show overlap rather than contrast with the age category denoted by the wordadulēscēns. A sense 'immature' or 'not adult' is attested in New Latin.
When used as an adjective of the positive degree, it is normally masculine or feminine with the same consonant-stem forms as the noun. Positive forms not shared with the noun (e.g.i-stem ablative singulariuvenī, genitive pluraliuvenium, neuter nominative/accusative singulariuvene, neuter pluraliuvenia) are unattested in Classical Latin, and seen only occasionally in Medieval or New Latin texts. Somei-stem forms are specifically stated to be absent by Latin grammarians.[5][6]
The superlative (iuvenissimus) is not attested in Classical Latin: the sense of "youngest" is expressed by other means, such as the phrasenatūminimus (literally "least in age").
^De Vaan, Michiel (2008), “iuvenis”, inEtymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill,→ISBN,pages317-8
^Sihler, Andrew L. (1995),New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press,→ISBN, pages67-68
^G. P. Klubertanz (1954), “The Teaching of Thomistic Metaphysics”, inGregorianum, volume35, number 2, pages7-9
^M. Winterbottom (22 December 2015), “Declamationes pseudo-Quintilianeae”, inOxford Classical Dictionary[1], Oxford University Press
^Priscian (c.AD 500), Heinrich Keil, editor,Grammatici Latini Ex recensione Henrici Keilii / Vol. 2 Prisciani Institutionum Grammaticarum Libri I-XII ex recensione Martini Hertzii, published1855,page353: “excipiuntur 'iuvenis a iuvene iuvenum', 'canis a cane canum', 'panis a pane panum'; carent enim i paenultima semper. ―Excepted are 'iuvenis a iuvene iuvenum', 'canis a cane canum', 'panis a pane panum'; for they always lack penultimate i.”
^Pseudo-Probus/Probus minor (c. 4th century), Heinrich Keil, editor,Grammatici Latini / 4 Probi Donati Servii qui feruntur de Arte Grammatica Libri ex recensione H. Keilii[2], volume 4, published1864,page68: “nunc etiam hoc monemus, quod hoc nomen, id est iuvenis, in genere neutro propter metri vel structurae sonum numerum pluralem facere prohibeatur. ―Now we also advise that this noun, that is 'iuvenis', should not be made plural in the neuter gender for reasons of the sound of the meter or structure.”
^AIS:Sprach- und Sachatlas Italiens und der Südschweiz [Linguistic and Ethnographic Atlas of Italy and Southern Switzerland] –map 51: “giovani” – onnavigais-web.pd.istc.cnr.it
“iuvenis”, inCharlton T. Lewis (1891),An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
"iuvenis", in Charles du Fresne du Cange,Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
