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molliter

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word molliter

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (mollis)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈmɔl.lɪ.tɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɔl.li.ter][1]

Forms

molliter (comparative mollius, superlative mollissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is the adverb of mollis (“soft”), formed with -ter.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨mollis⟩ to Proto-Italic *moldu-(i-) and Proto-Indo-European *ml̥d-u- (“soft”), cognate with Sanskrit मृदु (mṛdú-, “soft, delicate”) and Welsh blydd (“soft”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus,[4] in whom someone asks to be held gently.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means “softly”, of a soft feel (Cicero's reclining softly and luxuriously) or a gentle movement, and of a slope rising gently.[2] Horace uses it of supple movement and of smoothly flowing verse, Pliny the Elder of soft light.[2] It is also “easily, without distress”, as Seneca's “no kind of death is easier”, “luxuriously”, and “mildly, calmly”: Cicero says he acted sparingly and gently.[2] In a bad sense it is “weakly, without courage”, as Sallust's bearing grief too weakly.[2]

Church Latin glosses it “gently”.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of holding someone gently.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of soft reclining and of mildness.[2][4]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust of weakness.[2][4]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace of smooth verse.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Softly, gently; with a gentle slope.[2][1][5]
  2. With a supple movement; of sound, smoothly; of light, softly.[2]
  3. Easily, without pain; quietly.[2][1]
  4. Luxuriously, delicately.[2]
  5. Mildly, without severity; calmly, patiently.[2][1]
  6. Weakly, faint-heartedly.[2]
  • molle
  • mollēscō
  • mollicellus
  • mollicīna
  • mollicomus
  • molliculus
  • mollificō
  • mollificus
  • mollīmentum
  • molliō
  • mollis

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 p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ 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 e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Molliter.” Etymologically, 19 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/molliter. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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