celer

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkɛ.ɫɛr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃɛː.ler]^[1]

Forms

celer (feminine celeris, neuter celere, comparative celerior, superlative celerrimus, adverb celeriter); third-declension three-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *keli-r/li- (“fast”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *kel-i- (“speeding”), an old i-stem.^[2] Cognate with Ancient Greek κέλλω (kéllō, “to drive on”), Ancient Greek κέλης (kélēs, “racehorse”) and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌳𐌰𐌽 (haldan, “to tend cattle”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Livius Andronicus, who has a feminine celer.^[2][4][3] Naevius and Cato have a masculine celeris.^[2][4][3] Köbler places Livius Andronicus before 200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant moving swiftly, fast, agile, and of people and the mind quick to act, as in Cicero's “nothing is quicker than the mind”.^[3] Of events it meant quick or early, and of time passing quickly.^[3] It was also a Roman cognomen, as of Metellus Celer, and the Celerēs were the bodyguard of the early kings.^[3][1]

Döderlein groups celer and citus, swiftness of movement opposed to tardus, against vēlōx and pernīx, nimbleness from bodily strength.^[5] In medieval Latin it could mean a courier.^[6] celeritās gave English celerity, and accelerō gave English accelerate.^[7]

Timeline

• before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus asks which of two is the faster.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero says nothing is quicker than the mind.^[3][4]
• late 15th century – English celerity is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. swift, fast.^[3]
2. Agile, nimble.^[3]
3. (of persons, the mind) Quick, prompt.^[3]
4. Quick, speedy, (of time) passing quickly.^[3]
5. (Medieval Latin) (as a noun) A courier.^[6]

Word family

• celerēs
• celeripēs
• celeritās
• celeritūdō
• perceler
• praeceler

Related words

• English celerity
• English accelerate

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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 d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com