parate

Forms

parātē (comparative parātius, superlative parātissimē, adjective parātus)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin parātus¹ (“prepared, ready”) + -ē.^[2][1] parātus¹ is the participle of parō (“to prepare”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *parāje/o- and Proto-Indo-European *prh₃-o- (“providing”), most often explained as a verb made from a noun; he compares Ancient Greek ἔπορον (époron, “provided, gave”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it first in Plautus,^[4] where in the Epidicus one character announces a trick with a crafty lute girl who will fool two old men, and the other exclaims ut parate!, “how well planned!”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Plautus it means with all precautions taken.^[2] Cicero uses it of speaking after due preparation, as in paratius atque accuratius dicere, and of an orator who came to speak more boldly than prepared;^[2] Seneca says that one who acts so readily surely acts gladly.^[2] From this comes the sense “without hesitation, readily”: Cicero says that men should fight more readily for honour and glory than for other advantages,^[2] and Pliny the Younger has the superlative paratissime.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a well-laid plan.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of prepared speaking and of readiness to fight.^[2][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of acting readily.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. With due preparation; with every precaution taken.^[2]
2. Without hesitation, readily, promptly.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de