Etymologically
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ferociter

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [fɛˈroː.kɪ.tɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [feˈrɔː.t͡ʃi.ter][1]

Forms

ferōciter (comparative ferōcius, superlative ferōcissimē, adjective ferōx)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ferōx (“wild, fierce”) + -ter.[2][1] De Vaan derives ferōx from ferus (“wild”), which he traces to Proto-Italic *χwero- and Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰueh₁ro- (“wild animal”), cognate with Ancient Greek θήρ (thḗr, “wild animal”) and Lithuanian žvėrìs; he suggests, though it can be disputed, that ⟨ferōx⟩ is one of the sources of the suffix ⟨-ōx⟩.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest citation in the OLD is in Plautus' Amphitruo: superbe nimis ferociter legatos nostros increpant, “they rebuke our envoys too proudly and insolently”.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Its senses follow the adjective: fiercely, aggressively, as in Sallust's pauci ferocius decernunt, “a few vote more fiercely”; arrogantly, insolently or defiantly, as in Plautus and Cicero's aspere et ferociter et libere dicta, words spoken harshly, defiantly and freely; and boldly, with spirit, as in Cicero's respondisti plane ferociter, “you answered quite boldly”, in the Philippics.[2][4] Livy uses it of brave deeds in war and of riding up boldly, and Tacitus of delivering instructions defiantly.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, “insolently”.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, “defiantly” and “boldly”.[2][4][5]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust, “fiercely”.[2][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of brave deeds in war.[4][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Fiercely, ferociously, aggressively.[2][1]
  2. Arrogantly, insolently, defiantly.[2][4][1]
  3. Boldly, with spirit, courageously.[2][4][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de