Etymologically
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alacriter

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aˈɫa.krɪ.tɛr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈlaː.kri.ter][1]

Forms

alacriter (comparative magis alacriter or alacrius, superlative maximē alacriter or summē alacriter or alacerrimē or alacrissimē, adjective alacer or alacris)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin alacer (“brisk, eager”) + -ter, an adverb.[2][1] De Vaan considers deriving ⟨alacer⟩ from the root Proto-Indo-European *h₂elh₂- (“to wander”) of ambulō, though the semantics do not compel it and the suffix would be rare.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot cites Frontinus, Apuleius and Justin, who has alacrius, and Köbler's earliest source is Ammianus.[4][5] Köbler dates Apuleius c. 125–175 AD.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant eagerly, briskly, with ardour.[2][4]

British Medieval Latin used it for briskly, eagerly, as in Bede.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it.[4][5]
  • c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses it.[5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Eagerly, briskly.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press