argutus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [arˈɡuː.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [arˈɡuː.tus]^[1]

Forms

argūtus (feminine argūta, neuter argūtum, comparative argūtior, superlative argūtissimus, adverb argūtē); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is the participle of arguō “to make clear, prove”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a chatterer.^[2] Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant producing sharp, clear sounds, of birds and cicadas, as in Varro, and in Horace clear-voiced, melodious.^[2] In Pliny the Elder it was used of keen smells, in Plautus of the talkative, in Cicero of expressive eyes or gestures, and in Horace of the quick-witted, shrewd.^[2]

It survives in Italian arguto “witty”, and was borrowed as English argute.^[1] The verb arguō gave English argue through Old French about 1300.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[3]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the talkative.^[2][3]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of the melodious and the shrewd.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Clear-sounding; chirping.^[2]
2. Melodious.^[2]
3. Pungent.^[2]
4. Talkative.^[2]
5. Expressive.^[2]
6. Quick-witted, shrewd.^[2]

Word family

• argūtia
• argūtulus

Related words

• arguō
• argūmentum
• English argute
• English argue

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com