Etymologically
Log in

facete

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 12:55. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

facētē (comparative facētius, superlative facētissimē)[1] Comparative facētius, superlative facētissimē.[2][1]

Etymology

It is from Latin facētus (“clever, witty”) + -ē.[2] The origin of facētus is doubtful: the ancients took it from faciō (“to make”), and the OLD suggests a link with fax (“torch”).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Naevius.[3] In Plautus' Captivi a character applauds a remark as aptly put: facete dictum![2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is aptly or cleverly,[2] as in Plautus; in Cicero it is wittily or amusingly, as in his discussion of jokes in On the Orator: illud facete dictum.[2] Wiktionary also gives the sense nicely or elegantly.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius.[3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of something aptly said.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, of a witty remark.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Aptly, cleverly.[2]
  2. Wittily, amusingly.[2][1]
  3. Nicely, elegantly.[1]

Word family

  • perfacētē

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de