levor

Forms

lēvor m (genitive lēvōris); third declension^[1][2] Lewis & Short and Georges also give the spelling laevor.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin lēvis² (“smooth”) + -or.^[1][4][5] De Vaan takes lēvis as an old u-stem adjective, from Proto-Italic *lēju- and Proto-Indo-European *leh₁i-u- (“smooth”), and compares Ancient Greek λεῖος (leîos, “level, smooth”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan finds it first in Lucretius,^[4] who uses it of the smoothness of the atoms (haud sine principali aliquo levore, “not without some primary smoothness”) and also of the voice.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Pliny the Elder names smoothness among the qualities by which papyrus is judged, beside thinness, density and whiteness,^[2] and uses it of the smoothness that remedies give the body.^[2] Georges notes that its opposite is roughness.^[3]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of smooth atoms and of the voice.^[2][4][5]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of the smoothness of papyrus.^[2][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. Smoothness, evenness of a surface.^[1][2]
2. Smoothness of the voice.^[2]

Related words

• lēvigō

Usage notes

Its opposite is asperitās “roughness”.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier