gloriosus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɡɫoː.riˈoː.sʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ɡlo.riˈɔː.s̬us]^[1]

Forms

glōriōsus (feminine glōriōsa, neuter glōriōsum, comparative glōriōsior, superlative glōriōsissimus, adverb glōriōsē); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from glōria “glory” with the suffix -ōsus.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a boaster.^[2] Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant boastful, vainglorious, as in Plautus.^[2] In Cicero it meant glorious, illustrious, and eager for glory.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant glorious, full of glory.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it of famous people, as an epithet of sovereigns and popes.^[6] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish glorioso, and through Anglo-French it gave English glorious in the late 13th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a boaster.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the illustrious.^[2][4]
• late 13th century – English glorious is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Boastful, vainglorious.^[2]
2. Glorious, illustrious.^[2]
3. Eager for glory.^[2]

Word family

• ingloriosus
• praegloriosus
• superglōriōsus

Related words

• glōria
• glōriātiō
• glōrior
• glōriōsē
• English glorious

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ 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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press