magnum
Meaning
A large wine bottle, typically holding 1.5 liters, equivalent to two standard bottles.
A large type of cartridge or firearm designed to fire it, having greater power than standard types.
Structure
Usage
They celebrated their anniversary with a magnum of champagne.
The detective carried a .357 magnum for protection.
The vineyard released a special edition magnum for the vintage year.
Etymology
The word 'magnum' is a direct borrowing from the Latin neuter adjective 'magnum', meaning 'great' or 'large'. It entered English in the late 18th century, initially used in the phrase 'magnum bonum' (a great good) for a type of large potato and plum. Its application to a large wine bottle is recorded from the late 18th century, logically extending the core Latin sense of physical size. The use for a powerful firearm cartridge emerged in the 20th century, metaphorically transferring the idea of 'largeness' to the scale of its power and impact.
Analysis
magn (Latin origin, meaning 'large, great'); um (Latin neuter noun suffix).