capax

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈka.paːks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkaː.paks]^[1]

Forms

capāx (genitive capācis, comparative capācior, superlative capācissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin capiō (“to take, hold”) + -āx.^[2][1] The verb capiō is inherited from Proto-Italic *kap-i- (“to seize”), which de Vaan derives from PIE *kh₂p-i- or from a non-Indo-European *kap-i-.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Lucretius,^[3] who speaks of the capacious walls of the world.^[2] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant able to hold a lot, roomy or capacious, as of cups, urns and places.^[2] Lewis and Short note that it is frequent in poets and in post-Augustan prose, and that Cicero perhaps has it only once, figuratively.^[5] With a genitive it meant big enough for something, then capable of having or receiving, and capable of understanding.^[2]

In medieval British Latin it also meant retentive.^[6] It survives in Italian capace and Spanish capaz, and English capacious dates from the 1610s.^[1][7]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius speaks of the capacious walls of the world.^[2][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace calls for larger cups.^[2][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of being capable of receiving a benefit.^[2][4]
• 1610s – English capacious is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Able to hold much, roomy, capacious.^[2]
2. Big enough for (with genitive).^[2]
3. Capable of having or receiving.^[2]
4. Capable of understanding; apt, fit.^[2][1]

Word family

• capācitās
• incapāx
• capāciter

Related words

• capiō
• English capacious
• English capacity
• English capable

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com