Etymologically
Log in

placatus

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word placatus

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*pl(e)h₂/₃k-)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin placo
Latin placabilis
Latin placatus

Forms

plācātus (feminine plācāta, neuter plācātum; comparative plācātior, superlative plācātissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1][2]

Etymology

Used as an adjective, it is the past participle from Latin plācō (“to appease”).[1][2][3] De Vaan takes plācō as probably a denominal verb of the same root as placeō “to please”, which he traces to Proto-Italic *plāk-ā- and Proto-Indo-European *pl(e)h₂/₃k- (“to agree, be pleasant”); the only direct cognates are Tocharian words in ⟨plāk-⟩ “to agree”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first quotation is in Plautus: at the end of the Mercator a man is told that his wife is calm and appeased towards him.[1]

Semantic evolution

Of people and gods it is kindly disposed, merciful, as the result of having been appeased: Pliny the Elder speaks of gods made more favourable.[1][2] Of things and conditions it is peaceful, calm: Cicero writes of the quiet, settled state of the mind and of philosophers who talk of calm and untroubled matters, Virgil of calm seas, and Livy of a face and speech gentle towards all.[1][2] Cicero also has the superlative of a most peaceful rest.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of an appeased wife.[1][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of a calm mind and calm subjects.[1][2][3]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil of calm seas.[2][3]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a gentle face and speech.[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Kindly disposed, merciful, appeased.[1][2]
  2. Of things and conditions, peaceful, calm, quiet.[1][2]

Usage notes

The adverb plācātē “calmly, composedly” is used by Cicero, who urges bearing all human things calmly and with moderation.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
Cite this entry

“Placatus.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/placatus. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·