Etymologically
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flagrans

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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]

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.