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multo

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word multo

multo1 by far

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Italic (*molto-)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈmʊɫ.toː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈmul.to][1]

Forms

multō (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

The adverb is the ablative singular neuter of multus “much”, an ablative of degree, “by much”.[2][1][3] De Vaan derives ⟨multus⟩ from Proto-Italic *molto- and compares Ancient Greek μάλα (mála, “very”), but thinks the PIE root etymology is weak.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has advēnit … nōn multō prius, “he arrived not much earlier”, and hau multō post … aderit, “he will be here not long after”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Multō strengthens comparatives, “by far, much” (multō multōque “far and away”), and gives intervals of time, “long before, long after” (multō ante, nōn multō post).[2][5][1] Church Latin glosses it “by much, a great deal”.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: multō fēcistis sapientius, “you acted much more wisely”.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence: multō ante.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: nōn multō post discessum meum, “not long after my departure”.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. (with comparatives) By far, much;[2][5][1][6] multō multōque, far and away.[2][5][1][6]
  2. (of time) Long (before or after).[2][1]

multo2 to fine

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 235–200 BC, Naevius
Ultimate origin
Proto-Italic (*moltā)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈmʊɫ.toː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈmul.to][1]

Forms

multō (present infinitive multāre, perfect active multāvī, supine multātum); first conjugation[1] An early inscription has molt-;[2] the spelling mulctō is less correct.[5]

Etymology

The verb is formed from multa “a fine, penalty”.[2][5][1] The noun goes back to Proto-Italic *moltā;[4][1] Oscan has molto and the verb moltaum (“to fine”), Umbrian mutu (“fine”).[4][1] De Vaan thinks ⟨multa⟩ may belong with multus “much”, a fine being an amount one must pay, though he calls this uncertain.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius.[4] Plautus has ob stultitiam tuam tē … multābō minā, “I'll fine you a mina for your stupidity”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Multāre is to punish someone with the loss of something, “to fine”, with the ablative of the penalty, and then generally “to punish” persons or offences.[2][5][1] It is mostly used of judicial punishment;[5] Cicero has accūsātōrem multā et poenā multāvit.[5] Wiktionary also gives “to confiscate the assets”.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – First used by Naevius.[4][3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: tē … multābō minā;[2][3] duplicī damnō dominōs multant, “they punish their masters with a double loss”.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: accūsātōrem multā et poenā multāvit.[5][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To punish with the loss of something, to fine.[2][5][1]
  2. To punish (persons or offences).[2][5][1]
  3. To confiscate the property of.[1]

Word family

  • multātiō
  • multitō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s 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 q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Multo.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/multo. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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