Etymologically
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decore

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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]

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