Etymologically
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capax

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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

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