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magnifice

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word magnifice

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (magnus,faciō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin magnus
Latin permagnus
Latin magnitudo
English magnitude
Latin magnificus
French magnifique
Latin magnifice

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [maŋˈnɪ.fɪ.keː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [maɲˈɲiː.fi.t͡ʃe][1]

Forms

magnificē (comparative magnificius, superlative magnificissimē)[1] Comparative magnificentius, superlative magnificentissimē.[2] Cato used the comparative magnificius.[2][3] Also spelled magnuficē; the positive is also magnificenter.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin magnificus (“grand, splendid”) + -ē.[2][1] magnificus is formed from magnus (“great”) and the ending ⟨-ficus⟩ of faciō (“to make”).[1] De Vaan traces magnus to Proto-Italic *magno- (“great”) and Proto-Indo-European *mǵ-no- (“great”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has it first: in the Casina a character is eager to dress himself splendidly, like a patrician.[2][5] The manuscripts of Plautus sometimes spell it ⟨magnufice⟩.[3]

Semantic evolution

It is in a fine, lordly manner, and of speech in grand language: Cicero says the orator will speak and think everything more loftily and grandly.[2] Terence uses it of boasting, and of treating someone handsomely.[2] The comparative is normally ⟨magnificentius⟩, the superlative ⟨magnificentissimē⟩;[2][3] Festus reports that Cato said ⟨magnificius⟩.[2][3] Church Latin glosses it nobly, generously.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of dressing splendidly.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence of boasting.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of grand language.[2][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. In a fine or lordly manner, splendidly; of speech, in grand language.[2][1]
  2. Boastfully, proudly.[2]
  3. Excellently, superbly; nobly, generously.[2][1][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  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 c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Magnifice.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/magnifice. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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