bene

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈbɛ.nɛ]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbɛː.ne]^[1]

Forms

bene (comparative melius, superlative optimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Old Latin ⟨*duenēd⟩, the ablative of ⟨duenos⟩, the older form of bonus “good”, from Proto-Italic *dwenos (“good”).^[2][1] De Vaan explains that ⟨*due-⟩ became ⟨*duo-⟩ only before a non-front vowel, which is why ⟨bene⟩ kept its /e/; he reconstructs Proto-Indo-European ⟨*duh₂-eno-⟩ with a query.^[2] Cognate with Faliscan duenom (“good”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, “well, competently”.^[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant well, competently, correctly, and morally well, as in Plautus, and in Cato properly and duly, according to ritual.^[3] It also meant kindly (bene audīre “to be well spoken of”), pleasantly, profitably (bene emere “to buy cheap”), thoroughly, and with adjectives quite, pretty.^[3] Bene dīcite was the call for holy silence, like Greek euphēmei, and Cicero used it of a fortunate outcome.^[3]

British Medieval Latin used it for well, and elliptically “it is well”.^[5] It survives in Italian bene, French bien, Spanish bien and Romanian bine.^[1] Its compound benefactum gave English benefit through Anglo-French, in the late 14th century.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of ritual correctness.^[3][4]
• late 14th century – English benefit is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Well, competently.^[3]
2. Correctly, rightly.^[3]
3. Properly; duly.^[3]
4. Kindly, favourably, bene audīre, to be well spoken of.^[3]
5. Pleasantly; profitably.^[3]
6. Thoroughly; quite.^[3]

Word family

• benedīcō
• benefaciō
• benefactum
• beneficus
• benefio
• benemōrius
• beneolentia
• benēplaceō
• benesuādus
• benevolēns
• benevolus
• perbene

Related words

• bonus
• bellus
• melius
• optimē
• English benefit

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ 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
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com