Bifere
From Simon Online
Revision as of 15:38, 13 December 2016 by WilfGunther (Talk | contribs)
Bifere dicuntur arbores que bis anno fructiferant.
Apparatus:
dicuntur ABC fjp | dn͡t ms. e
bis AC | bis in B efjp
fructiferant AC | fructificant B efjp
{fructiferant} plinius add. efj {see comment}
Translation:
Trees that bear fruit twice a year are called in Latin bifer {(lit.) "twice bearing"}
Commentary:
bifere:
The adjective bifer is a compound of bi- "twice" + fer {"carry, bear"}. Simon's bifere, classic biferae, is nom. pl. fem. in agreement with arbores {"trees"}.
As for the allusion to Pliny in witnesses efj, it must be said that the adjective bifer occurs in quite a number of ancient authors like Varro, Columella and Virgil and not only in Pliny.
WilfGunther (talk) 15:38, 13 December 2016 (GMT)