gloriosus
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Pronunciation
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
Word family
- ingloriosus
- praegloriosus
- superglōriōsus
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
- ^ 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