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opimus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word opimus

History Permalink
Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
laws of the kings

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɔˈpiː.mʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [oˈpiː.mus][1]

Forms

opīmus (feminine opīma, neuter opīmum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

De Vaan derives it from ops “power, resources”, from an old instrumental *opī “with riches” and an adjective suffix, so “abundant”; the OLD also suggests ops.[2][3] The older connection with pinguis and Sanskrit पीवन् (pī́van-, “fat”), still in Lewis and Short and Wiktionary, is rejected by de Vaan.[2][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from the laws of the kings, then Plautus.[2] Köbler dates it from Accius, 170–c. 90 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

Its oldest use was in spolia opīma, the arms taken by a Roman general from an enemy leader he had killed in single combat, a law of the kings.[3][2] Of sacrificial victims it meant choice, and in general plump or fat, as Accius' eagle on Prometheus' rich liver.[3] Of food it was rich and sumptuous, of land fertile, as Cicero's rich and fertile Asia, of people well provided, and of style rich or overladen.[3]

It was borrowed as Italian opimo and English opime.[1]

Timeline

  • 7th–6th century BC – The laws of the kings regulate the spolia opīma.[2][3]
  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius speaks of a rich liver.[3][5]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius speaks of sumptuous feasts.[3][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero calls Asia rich and fertile.[3][5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. spolia opīma, the spoils taken by a general from an enemy leader killed in single combat.[3]
  2. (of victims) Choice.[3]
  3. Plump, fat.[3]
  4. (of food) Rich, sumptuous.[3]
  5. (of land) Rich, fertile.[3]
  6. Wealthy; abounding (in).[3]
  7. (of style) Rich, ample.[3]

Word family

  • opīma
  • opīmitās
  • praeopimus

Usage notes

Manuscripts often corrupt it to optimus.[3] Döderlein contrasts pinguis, fat as dull and sluggish, with opīmus, fat as well-fed and rich.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
Cite this entry

“Opimus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/opimus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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