Etymologically
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exquisitus

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Forms

exquīsītus (feminine exquīsīta, neuter exquīsītum; comparative exquīsītior, superlative exquīsītissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin exquīrō (“to search out, inquire”), its participle used as an adjective.[1][2][3] That verb is a compound of quaerō (“to seek”),[4] which de Vaan, following Nussbaum, traces to Proto-Italic *kwai-s-e/o- and Proto-Indo-European *kueh₂-i- (“to acquire”), with other proposals reported as uncertain.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,[3] who in the De re publica speaks of training in the most refined Greek manner.[1]

Semantic evolution

It is first what is carefully worked out, studied or meticulous: Cicero wants neatness that is neither offensive nor too studied, Valerius Maximus has vessels made with exquisite art, and Pliny the Elder knowledge of the finest subtlety.[1] It is then what is chosen with unusual care, choice or rare: Cicero has the choicest dishes for a feast and exquisite tortures, Seneca gifts more rare and choice than costly, and Tacitus new and choice paths of eloquence and a poison chosen to disturb the mind and delay death.[1] Georges adds a refined flatterer in Tacitus and very refined courtesy in Suetonius.[2] Church Latin also has “made certain, properly considered”.[5]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, of refined training and choice dishes.[1][3]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca, of rare and choice gifts.[1][3]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus, of new paths of eloquence.[1][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Carefully worked out, studied, meticulous.[1][2]
  2. Chosen with unusual care, choice, rare, exquisite.[1][2][5]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Made certain; carefully considered.[5]

References

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b 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 c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson