dulcis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdʊɫ.kɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdul̠ʲ.t͡ʃis]^[1]

Forms

dulcis (neuter dulce, comparative dulcior, superlative dulcissimus, adverb dulce or dulciter); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *dulkʷi- (“sweet”).^[2] It is most likely related to Ancient Greek γλυκύς (glukús, “sweet”) and Ancient Greek γλεῦκος (gleûkos, “sweet wine”), both traditionally traced to Proto-Indo-European *dl̥kús (“sweet”), although the loss of the second /u/ in Latin is unexpected.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus, and Köbler from Ennius.^[2][4] Cato says that cabbage is at once sweet, bitter and sharp.^[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant sweet in taste, and of water fresh as opposed to salt.^[3] It also meant sweet-smelling, sweet-sounding, pleasant or delightful, dear or cherished, as in Cicero's “the very sweet name of peace”, and of people charming.^[3] Horace's dulce et decōrum est prō patriā morī is a famous use.^[5]

Döderlein says that suāvis is a pleasant smell and a calm pleasure, while dulcis is a pleasant taste and a lively pleasure.^[6] In British medieval Latin the neuter plural meant sweets.^[7] Old French doucet, from its descendant doux, gave English dulcet, and Old French doulcemele gave English dulcimer.^[8] It survives in Italian dolce and Spanish dulce.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][5][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato says cabbage is sweet, bitter and sharp.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the sweet name of peace.^[3][4]
• late 14th century – English dulcet is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. sweet (in taste).^[3]
2. (of water) Fresh, not salt.^[3]
3. Sweet-smelling; melodious.^[3]
4. Pleasant, delightful.^[3]
5. Dear, cherished, (of persons) charming.^[3]

Word family

• dulcacidus
• dulcēdō
• dulciārius
• dulciculus
• dulcifer
• dulcificō
• dulciloquus
• dulcimodus
• dulcinervis
• dulciolum
• dulciōrelocus
• dulcisonōrus

Related words

• dulcātor
• dulcōrō
• English dulcet
• English dulcimer

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com