Etymologically
Log in

admirabiliter

Etymology and origin of the Latin word admirabiliter

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (mīror)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin admirabilis
Latin admirabilitas
Latin admirabiliter

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ad.miː.raːˈbɪ.lɪ.tɛr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ad.mi.raˈbiː.li.ter][1]

Forms

admīrābiliter (comparative admīrābilius, superlative admīrābilissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin admīrābilis (“admirable, wonderful”) + -ter, an adverb.[2][1][3] ⟨admīror⟩ is from ad- and mīror (“to wonder at”).[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cicero.[3][2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant in a wonderful manner, admirably, as in Cicero's De natura deorum and letters, and so as to cause surprise, strangely, paradoxically, as in Cicero, and Quintilian also uses it.[2][4]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[2][3]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Admirably, wonderfully.[2]
  2. Strangely, paradoxically.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
Cite this entry

“Admirabiliter.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/admirabiliter. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·