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deterior

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word deterior

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (dē)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [deːˈtɛ.ri.ɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [deˈtɛː.ri.or][1]

Forms

dēterior (comparative, neuter dēterius, positive *dēter, superlative dēterrimus); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is a comparative formed from dē (“down from”), like exterior and inferior, Lewis and Short assume an unused positive ⟨*dēter⟩, “low”.[2][3][1] Köbler compares the particle Proto-Indo-European *de-.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, Epidicus: when a weaker man boasts of his fights to a braver one.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It is worse in the sense of less pleasant or more serious, as Livy's captives in a worse condition than their fathers, and of quality lower or poorer: Cato's wine that will be no worse than Coan.[2] It is weaker or less valued, morally worse (Plautus: “I never saw anyone worse than you”), and more harmful, as a worse road.[2] Church Latin glosses it “inferior”.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of the weaker man and of moral worth.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato of worse wine.[2][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a worse condition.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Less pleasant, more serious, worse.[2][1]
  2. Lower in quality, poorer, inferior; weaker; of less value.[2][1][5]
  3. Morally worse, more wicked.[2]
  4. More harmful, less expedient.[2]

Word family

  • dēteriōrō

Usage notes

Döderlein explains dēterior as a double comparative of dē, of what has fallen from a good state, while peior is what has gone from bad to worse.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
Cite this entry

“Deterior.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/deterior. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·