flagrans

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫa.ɡrãːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflaː.ɡrans]^[1]

Forms

flagrāns (genitive flagrantis); third-declension one-termination participle^[1] Apuleius has fraglāns.^[2]

Etymology

It is the present participle of flagrō “to blaze, burn”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and the OLD cites Cicero for burning with desire.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant flaming, blazing, as in Propertius; of the sun or heat scorching, intense, as in Horace, and Livy has flagrantissimō aestū “at the height of summer”.^[2][5] In Cicero it meant burning with desire, ardent, and in Tacitus of a person in the ascendant and of crimes outrageous, flagrant.^[2]

It gave English flagrant about 1500, first “resplendent”.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of ardour.^[2][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of scorching heat.^[2][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of outrageous crimes.^[2][4]
• c. 1500 – English flagrant is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Blazing, burning; scorching.^[2]
2. Ardent, eager.^[2]
3. Outrageous, flagrant.^[2]

Related words

• flagrō
• flamma
• English flagrant
• English conflagration

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.