[ˈhas.ta], [ˈas.ta]
OrigoDisputed. Michiel de Vaan suggests a possible Proto-Italic form Proto-Italic *hastā-. It is also conjectured to be from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰasto- or *ǵʰasdʰo- (“branch ~ spear, sharp spine”) (see below for Indo-European cognates), but the phonetics are problematic. Likely of ultimately non-Indo-European substrate origin.
Cognates include Irish gad (“withe”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌶𐌳𐍃 (gazds, “spine, aculeus”) and Old Norse gaddr (“spear, goad”) (loaned into English as gad); the Celtic and Germanic forms point to a PIE pre-form *ǵʰasdʰo-. A relationship with Sanskrit हस्त (hasta, “hand”) (see hir) is unlikely. A relationship with Albanian heshtë, ushtë and shtijë (all meaning “spear”) is uncertain.
Also compared to Umbrian hostatu (acc.pl.m.), hostatir (dat.pl.m), of unknown meaning, but the root vowel /o/ does not match the Latin /a/.
- declension-1, femininea spear, lance, pike, carried by soldiers and used for thrusting
“Petere aliquem hastā.” — To attack someone with a spear.
“Victumne putāstī / Thēsea, dīre Creōn? Adsum, nec sanguine fessum / crēde; sitit meritōs etiamnum haec hasta cruōrēs.” — Did you think Theseus is defeated, cruel Creon? I am here, and do not believe I'm tired of blood, even my spear is still thirsty for righteous slaughter.
- declension-1, feminine, singularAsti (a town in Piedmont, Italy)
Formaehastae(genitive) · hasta(nominative, singular) · hastae(nominative, plural) · hastae(genitive, singular) · hastārum(genitive, plural) · hastae(dative, singular) · hastīs(dative, plural) · hastam(accusative, singular) · hastās(accusative, plural) · hastā(ablative, singular) · hastīs(ablative, plural) · hasta(singular, vocative) · hastae(plural, vocative) · Hastae(genitive) · Hasta(nominative, singular) · Hastae(genitive, singular) · Hastae(dative, singular) · Hastam(accusative, singular) · Hastā(ablative, singular) · Hasta(singular, vocative)