melior

Etymology

It is from Proto-Indo-European *mel-yōs (“more”), a comparative of a root *mel- “much, strong”.^[1][2] Cognate with Ancient Greek μάλα (mála, “very”) and Ancient Greek μᾶλλον (mâllon, “more”), and the OLD adds multus “much”.^[1][3] De Vaan finds the etymology weak, since the Greek words show no e-grade and the root has no other derivatives.^[1] Varro cites an old accusative meliōsem, before /s/ became /r/.^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius.^[1][2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It serves as the comparative of bonus “good”.^[3][4] It meant better at something, more competent, of better character or more virtuous, kinder, and as a noun meliōrēs the better people.^[3] Of things it meant finer or superior, more desirable, more suitable, more pleasing to the senses, and of circumstances more favourable.^[3]

In medieval Latin meliōrēs hominēs were vassals of standing.^[5] Its derivative meliōrō “to improve” gave Medieval Latin ameliōrāre and English ameliorate in 1728.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[1][2]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of a slave kinder to his master than to himself.^[3][2]
• 1728 – English ameliorate is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Better, more competent.^[3]
2. Of better character, more virtuous.^[3]
3. Kinder.^[3]
4. Finer, superior.^[3]
5. More desirable; more suitable.^[3]
6. More favourable.^[3]
7. (Medieval Latin) (plural) Vassals of standing, notables.^[5]

Word family

• meliōrō
• meliusculus

Related words

• multus
• bonus
• optimus
• English ameliorate

References

1. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com