graviter

Forms

graviter (comparative gravius, superlative gravissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin gravis (“heavy”) + -ter.^[2][1] De Vaan traces the adjective to Proto-Italic *gʷra(w)u- and Proto-Indo-European *gʷreh₂-u- (“heavy”), a u-stem remade as an i-stem in Latin, cognate with Sanskrit गुरु (gurú-, “heavy”), Ancient Greek βαρύς (barús, “heavy”) and Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌾𐍉𐍃 (kaurjos, “weighty, oppressive”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan records it from Plautus on; in the Captivi a captive hopes his new master will not command him unjustly or harshly (nē iniūstē aut graviter mī imperet).^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

Graviter is literally “heavily”, of pressure, of blows and falls (Terence: who knocked so hard at the door?) and of laboured breathing.^[2] It is used of dull hearing, deep sleep, strong or foul smells (Virgil's strong-scented savory), and a deep sound (Terence: the door creaked deeply).^[2] Of feelings, graviter ferre is “to take something hard, be vexed by it” (Terence).^[2] Of conduct it means sternly or harshly, and gravely, with dignity and weight (Cicero); of harm it means seriously, grievously, as graviter saucius “badly wounded” (Accius), and harmfully.^[2][1]

Döderlein classes graviter ferre, with aegrē and molestē ferre, among expressions of silent displeasure, as against the loud displeasure of īrāscī and indignārī.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of harsh commands.^[2][5]
• 190–159 BC – Terence of knocking hard and of taking things hard.^[2][5]
• 170–c. 90 BC – Accius: graviter saucium.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero of deep sleep and dignified replies.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. heavily, weightily; with force, violently.^[2][1]
2. Laboriously; dully; deeply; strongly (of smell); in a deep tone.^[2]
3. With displeasure;^[2] graviter ferre, to take hard, be vexed.^[2]
4. Sternly, severely, harshly.^[2][1]
5. gravely, with dignity; effectively.^[2]
6. Seriously, grievously; harmfully.^[2][1]

Related words

• gravidus
• gravis
• gravitās
• gravō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de