Etymologically
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formidolosus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [fɔr.miː.dɔˈɫoː.sʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [for.mi.doˈlɔː.s̬us][1]

Forms

formīdolōsus (feminine formīdolōsa, neuter formīdolōsum, superlative formīdolōsissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1] It is also spelled formīdulōsus.[2][1]

Etymology

It is from Latin formīdō (“fear”) + -ōsus, with the diminutive element -ul-.[2] De Vaan reports Leumann's view that it rhymes with perīculōsus (“dangerous”).[3] The origin of formīdō is uncertain: it may go back to *morm-, which would connect it with Ancient Greek μορμώ (mormṓ, “bogey, monster”), but de Vaan finds no Indo-European etymology for that group.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Naevius.[4] Plautus has herbs that are frightening even to name, let alone to eat.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means causing fear, formidable or dangerous, and also fearful or timid: in Terence one man asks another whether he is frightened.[2] Church Latin glosses it fearful.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of frightening herbs.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence of a frightened man.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Causing fear, formidable, alarming, dangerous.[2][1]
  2. Fearful, timorous, frightened.[2][5]

Word family

  • performidolosus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson