fastidiose

Forms

fastīdiōsē (comparative fastīdiōsius)^[1][2]

Etymology

It is an adverb, from Latin fastīdiōsus (“disdainful; fastidious”), formed with -ē.^[1][2] The adjective comes from fastīdium (“distaste, disdain”).^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler first records it in Cicero,^[3] who writes in the Pro Plancio that, already irritated, he answered disdainfully (stomachāns fastīdiōsē) “no, from Sicily”.^[1][2]

Semantic evolution

It means with distaste or with a show of distaste, disdainfully: Seneca uses it of receiving something reluctantly, and Petronius of someone offering a garment for sale as if it were a beggar's rags.^[1][5] Cicero also uses it of excessive niceness: we judge carefully and almost fastidiously, and he says he had approved it only slowly and fussily.^[1][2] Phaedrus says he is admitted into a company only fastidiously, after careful scrutiny,^[2] and Seneca asks what is more foolish than to be fastidious about dying (fastīdiōsē morī).^[1][5] The line is quoted again by Holcot,^[6] and Anselm uses the comparative in a letter.^[6]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of answering disdainfully and of judging fussily.^[1][3]
• c. 15 BC–c. 50 AD – Phaedrus uses it of being admitted after strict scrutiny.^[2][3]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of receiving something with reluctance.^[1][3]
• before 66 AD – Petronius uses it of offering a garment disdainfully.^[1][3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. With feelings or a show of distaste, disdainfully.^[1][2][7]
2. With excessive niceness or fussiness, fastidiously.^[1][8]

References

1. ^ 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
2. ^ a b c d e f g Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b 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
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T. (1890), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: American Book Company