Etymologically
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clementer

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Forms

clēmenter (comparative clēmentius, superlative clēmentissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin clēmēns (“mild, merciful”) + -ter.[2][3] De Vaan finds the origin of clēmēns unclear: he rejects Walde and Hofmann's *klejomenos “leaning”, and finds attractive Ernout and Meillet's idea that it is a compound with mēns (“mind”), an antonym of vehemēns “violent”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL records it, and its superlative, from Plautus on, and the comparative from Lucretius.[5] In the Miles Gloriosus a man says he explained most gently how something could be done, and in the Mercator someone begs another to go slowly, or he will wear off his heels.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

It is in a kindly way, leniently, mildly, and also at an easy pace, slowly, gently.[2][5] Of natural forces it is gently: Seneca says Campania went on trembling, more gently but with great damage.[2] Of ground it is rising in a gentle slope: Seneca has Parnassus with its gently rising hill.[2] Wiktionary adds the sense compliantly.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a gentle explanation and of a slow pace.[2][5][3]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius has the comparative.[5][3]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of an earthquake and of a gentle slope.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. In a kindly way, leniently, mercifully, mildly.[2][1]
  2. At an easy pace, slowly, gently; of natural forces, gently.[2][1]
  3. Of ground, with a gentle incline, gradually.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften