Etymologically
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magnifice

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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