Etymologically
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flagro

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫa.ɡroː], [ˈfɫaɡ.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflaː.ɡro], [ˈflaɡ.ro][1]

Forms

flagrō (present infinitive flagrāre, perfect active flagrāvī, supine flagrātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *flagro- (“burning”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *bʰl̥g-ro- (“burning”).[2] De Vaan takes the verb as probably a denominative of a lost adjective meaning “burning”, with the sequence -ag- explained by a sound rule proposed by Schrijver.[2] The noun flamma belongs to the same root, from Proto-Italic *flagmā, from a zero grade Proto-Indo-European *bʰl̥g-mh₂-, which de Vaan finds striking next to Ancient Greek φλογμός (phlogmós, “flame”).[2] Wiktionary takes the root further to Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to shine”).[1] Cognate with Oscan flagiuí, the dative of an epithet of Jupiter, and with Ancient Greek φλέγω (phlégō, “to burn”) and Sanskrit भ्राजते (bhrājate, “shines”).[2][3] A second flagrō in the manuscripts is a dissimilated form of frāgrō “to smell”.[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates the verb from Cicero onwards, while its derivative flagrantia already appears in Plautus.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4] In Cicero's Aratea two burning eyes of the constellation Draco blaze, and in his speeches people burn with zeal for learning.[3]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense is to be ablaze, of fires, torches and burning things, and of an altar or of Etna, the place where a fire burns.[3][5] It was used of things that seem to be on fire, a gleaming shield in Virgil or eyes and cheeks glowing with emotion, and of a body hot with fever or wine.[3] Figuratively a person burned with passion, zeal or love, and a country seethed with war or unrest.[3][5] Passions themselves and wars were said to burn or rage, and a person could be consumed by hatred or infamy.[3][6] Döderlein contrasts it with ardēre, to glow with a hidden heat, while flagrāre is to be in bright flames, and so of a passion that shows itself.[7]

The medieval writers kept the senses of burning, glowing and eager longing.[8] Its present participle gave English flagrant, recorded around 1500, first as “resplendent”.[9]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the derivative flagrantia “blaze”.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the blazing eyes of Draco and of zeal for learning.[3][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of Aeneas shining with his starry shield.[3][4]
  • c. 1500 – English flagrant is recorded.[9]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To be ablaze, burn, flame.[3][10]
  2. To glow or shine as if on fire; of the eyes or cheeks, to glow with emotion; of the body, to be flushed with fever or wine.[3]
  3. To be excited, to burn with passion, zeal or love; with an infinitive, to be eager to.[3][5]
  4. Of a country, to seethe with war or unrest.[3][5]
  5. To be the object of hatred or infamy.[3]
  6. Of passions, to be intense; of war, to rage.[3]

Word family

  • afflagrans
  • circumflagro
  • cōnflagrō
  • dēflagrō
  • flagrantia
  • flagrātōrēs
  • flagriō
  • inflagro
  • perflagratus
  • fulgō
  • flamma
  • fulgeō
  • English flagrant
  • English conflagration

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press