Etymologically

liquide

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 00:17. This address is a permanent link to this version.

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈlɪ.kʷɪ.deː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈliː.kʷi.de][1]

Forms

liquidē (comparative liquidius, superlative liquidissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin liquidus (“liquid, clear”) + -ē, an adverb.[2][3] ⟨liquidus⟩ is from liqueō (“to be liquid”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *(w)likʷ-ē- (“to be liquid”).[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's citations are from Gellius, of a cloudless sky and of clear understanding.[2][5] Köbler lists Cicero.[3] Köbler dates Gellius c. 165 AD.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant cloudlessly, limpidly, and with clearness of understanding, clearly, the same as liquidō.[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it figuratively for fluidly.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Cloudlessly, limpidly.[2]
  2. Clearly, with clear understanding.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  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