Etymologically
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aequabiliter

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ae̯.kʷaːˈbɪ.lɪ.tɛr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [e.kʷaˈbiː.li.ter][1]

Forms

aequābiliter (comparative aequābilius, superlative aequābilissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin aequābilis (“equal, uniform”) + -ter, from aequō (“to make level”) and aequus (“level, equal”).[2][1] De Vaan finds no convincing etymology for ⟨aequus⟩, probably from ⟨*aikwos⟩.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Cato's Dē agrī cultūrā, of equal proportions.[2][4][5] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant in equal proportions, equally, as in Cato; in a regular manner, uniformly, and of style smoothly, as in Varro; without distinction, alike; and equitably, fairly, as in Cicero's frūmentum aequābiliter emere ab omnibus cīvitātibus “to buy corn fairly from all the communities”.[2][5]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.[2][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of regularity.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of fairness.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. In equal proportions, equally.[2]
  2. Uniformly, regularly, (of style) smoothly.[2]
  3. Without distinction, alike.[2]
  4. Equitably, fairly.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.