Etymologically
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insidiose

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Forms

īnsidiōsē (superlative īnsidiōsissimē)[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin īnsidiōsus (“treacherous, cunning”) + -ē.[1][3] The adjective comes from īnsidiae (“ambush, trap”), which de Vaan lists among the derivatives of sedeō (“to sit”);[4] that verb goes back to Proto-Italic *sed-ē- (“to be seated”) and Proto-Indo-European *sed-eh₁- (“to be seated”).[4] Cognate with Umbrian sersitu (“to sit”), Old Irish saidid (“to sit”) and Ancient Greek ἕζομαι (hézomai, “to sit down”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,[5] who uses it in his speech for Sextus Roscius.[6] Cicero also has the superlative in a letter to his brother Quintus.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means treacherously, deceitfully or with hidden intent.[1][2] Besides Cicero it is found in Seneca's De beneficiis.[6]

British medieval writers used it for deceitfully or insidiously:[7] a chronicle of Battle Abbey has men who thought the abbot had treacherously reported their deceits to the king, and Roger Dymmok writes of wolves lurking in sheep's clothing.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in a speech and the superlative in a letter.[6][2][5]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it in De beneficiis.[6][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Treacherously, deceitfully, insidiously.[1][2][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  3. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b c 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