Etymologically
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdɛ.kɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛː.kor][1]

Forms

decor m (genitive decōris); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from decet “it is fitting” with the suffix -or.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Naevius, who also uses it as an adjective “handsome”.[4][3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a pleasing appearance, good looks, beauty, grace, as in Horace, of things decorativeness, as in Livy, and an ornament, as in Lucretius.[2] It meant non-visual beauty, elegance, charm, as in Ovid, and seemliness, propriety, as Horace's rule that each character and age must be given its proper quality, and Vitruvius' fitness.[2][3] Lewis and Short call it a poetic word, perhaps not in prose before the Augustan period.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant beauty, comeliness, elegance, grace.[6] In Medieval Latin it meant beauty of the human form, of a place, an object or literary style.[7] French décor and Italian and Spanish decoro are borrowings.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it as an adjective.[3][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of an ornament.[2][4]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of beauty and propriety.[2][3][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Beauty, grace, comeliness.[2]
  2. An ornament.[2]
  3. Elegance, charm.[2]
  4. Seemliness, propriety.[2]

Word family

  • decōrus

Usage notes

An adjective decor, “handsome”, is found in Naevius, Sallust and Apuleius.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ 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