apte

Forms

aptē (comparative aptius, superlative aptissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from aptus (“fitted, suitable”) with the adverbial suffix -ē.^[2][3] De Vaan lists ⟨aptus⟩ “tied” with apīscor (“to reach, get”) and the glossed apiō (“to tie, fasten”), from Proto-Italic *ap- and Proto-Indo-European *h1p-i- (“to get, grab”), cognate with Hittite epp- (“to take, grab”) and Sanskrit आप (ā́pa, “has reached”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero,^[3] whose Verrines have emblems fitted so closely into golden bowls that they seemed made for them.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It means “so as to fit closely, snugly”, then “neatly, aptly”, of words falling into place in Cicero's Orator, “suitably, usefully” and “appropriately, fittingly”, as of judging what is done fittingly in Cicero's De officiis.^[2][5]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero of a close fit and of fitting conduct.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. So as to fit closely, snugly.^[2]
2. Neatly, aptly, appositely.^[2][1]
3. Suitably, properly; fittingly.^[2][1]

Related words

• aptus
• apīscor

References

1. ^ a b c 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press