maestus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈmae̯s.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛs.tus]^[1]

Forms

maestus (feminine maesta, neuter maestum, comparative maestior, superlative maestissimus, adverb maestē); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is related to maereō “to grieve”, formally its participle used in an active sense.^[2][1] De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic ⟨*mais-⟩ “sad, grief” and connects it with miser, but finds no acceptable Proto-Indo-European source.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first source is Plautus, whom Köbler dates c. 250–184 BC.^[3][4] The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of unhappy people.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant unhappy, sad, mournful, and in Cicero showing the outward signs of mourning.^[2] Virgil used it of a stern, grim disposition, Cicero of things causing sorrow, and Catullus of words and sounds expressing grief.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant sad, dejected, melancholy.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it of sorrowful people and things.^[6] It survives in Italian mesto.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of mourning dress.^[2][4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of grim people.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Unhappy, sad, mournful.^[2]
2. Dressed in mourning.^[2]
3. Stern, grim.^[2]
4. Causing sorrow, gloomy.^[2]

Word family

• maestificō
• maestitia
• maestitūdō
• permaestus

Related words

• maereō
• maeror
• miser

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
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