zizanium

Latin

zizānia (cockle, tares)

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ζιζάνιον (zizánion), ultimately from Sumerian 𒍣𒍝𒀭 (zizān, “wheat”).

(Classical) IPA^(key): /zizˈzaː.ni.um/, [d̪͡z̪ɪz̪ˈd̪͡z̪äːniʊ̃ˑ] or IPA^(key): /zizˈza.ni.um/, [d̪͡z̪ɪz̪ˈd̪͡z̪äniʊ̃ˑ]

(Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /d͡zidˈd͡za.ni.um/, [d̪͡z̪id̪ˈd̪͡z̪äːnium]
Note: the /a/ is apparently long in Sumerian, as known in Classical Syriac ܙܝܙܢܐ‎ (zīzānā) and Arabic زِوَان‎ (ziwān), while it is short in Greek and the Latin scanning varies. The length of the /i/ before the underlyingly-geminate /z/ is unknown.

zizā̆nium n (genitive zizā̆niī or zizā̆nī); second declension

(Late Latin, often plural) cockle, tares, darnel (a weed, probably Lolium temulentum)
(Ecclesiastical Latin, figurative) used metaphorically of vices such as jealousy, discord etc.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Ambrose to this entry?)Please specify a language code in the first parameter; the value "Augustine" is not valid (see Wiktionary:List of languages).
- c. 390 CE – c. 455 CE, Prosper Aquitanus, Carmen de ingratis 929, (hexameter):
  Spīnīs fulta subit seges horrida zizǎniōrum.
  Perishes the prickly crop of tares that grow from thorns.
- 348 CE – c. 413 CE, Prudentius, The Divinity of Christ 56, (iambic):
  Refert sed ipsa nōsse, quae messem necant / zizāniōrum sēmina.
  Yet it's important for us to know the very seeds of the tares that kill the crop.
- 5th century — Vulgate Bible, Matthaeus 13:26
  cum autem crevisset herba et fructum fecisset tunc apparuerunt et zizania.
  But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then also appeared the tares.

Second-declension noun (neuter).

¹Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).