perite

Forms

perītē (comparative perītius, superlative perītissimē)^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin perītus (“skilled, experienced”) + -ē.^[2][1][4] De Vaan places perītus with perīculum (“trial”) under a stem Proto-Italic *per(e)i- (“to experience”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Accius has it first in the TLL, of skilfully putting bridles on wild beasts in the stable.^[6] Köbler dates it from Cicero.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It means expertly or skilfully.^[2] Cicero says that an accuser acted skilfully and cleverly, that some things were neatly arranged but not expertly, and that nothing more expert was said about treaties, and he has the superlative of selling most skilfully.^[6][3] Seneca says the wise man does many things that we see the most ignorant do as well or more skilfully,^[6] Pliny the Younger has playing the lyre skilfully, and Valerius Maximus arguing most expertly.^[3]

Timeline

• 170–c. 90 BC – Accius, of putting bridles on beasts.^[6][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero, of an accuser acting skilfully.^[6][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca has the comparative.^[6][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Expertly, skilfully, in a practised manner; cleverly.^[2][3][1]

Related words

• perītus
• perītia
• imperītē

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ a b c d e f Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften