avare

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [aˈwaː.reː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈvaː.re]^[1]

Forms

avārē (comparative avārius, superlative avārissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin avārus (“greedy”) + -ē, an adverb.^[2][1] ⟨avārus⟩ is from aveō (“to long for”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *awē- (“to be eager”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew-eh₁- (“to enjoy, consume”).^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, and Köbler's is Cicero.^[2][4] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant greedily, avariciously, rapaciously, as in Terence and Cicero's avārē aliquid facere “to act greedily”, and in a miserly manner, stingily, as in Seneca, and Columella has avārius exigere opus “to demand work too greedily”.^[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for avariciously, parsimoniously, as in Gerald of Wales.^[6]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[5][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of stinginess.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Greedily, avariciously.^[2]
2. Stingily.^[2]

Related words

• audeō
• avāriter
• avāritia
• avāritiēs
• avārus
• avēns
• aventer
• aveō
• avidē
• aviditās

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. ^ 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.
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