decore

Forms

decōrē (comparative decōrius, superlative decōrissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin decōrus (“fitting, handsome”) + -ē.^[2][3] De Vaan explains the long /ō/ of that adjective from the noun decor (“beauty”), which may have been formed to decet (“it is fitting”); that verb goes back to Proto-Indo-European *deḱ-eh₁-.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has it with the negative hau, of someone who looked after his own back in no seemly way.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It means both properly or suitably, as when Sallust speaks of public affairs managed well and fittingly,^[2] and beautifully: in his poem on his consulship Cicero describes a beautifully formed statue of Jupiter, and in De oratore rhythmical feet that fall gracefully.^[2] Later writers use it of hair flowing gracefully and of a head crowned with palm.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of seemly behaviour.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of beauty and grace.^[2][3]
• 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of public affairs properly managed.^[2][3]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of a head crowned with palm.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Beautifully, gracefully, elegantly.^[2][5]
2. Properly, suitably, becomingly.^[2][5]

Related words

• decor
• decorō
• decorōsus
• decōrum
• decōrus

References

1. ^ 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 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press