Etymologically
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placeo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpɫa.ke.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈplaː.t͡ʃe.o][1]

Forms

placeō (present infinitive placēre, perfect active placuī or placitus sum, supine placitum); second conjugation, optionally semi-deponent[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *plak-ē-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *pl(e)h₂/₃k- (“to agree, be pleasant”), a stative verb beside plācō “to appease”.[2][3] Its only close cognates are Tocharian B plāki (“agreement, permission”) and Tocharian plāk- (“to agree”).[2][4] If the root was Proto-Indo-European *plh₂k-, it might be the same as the root of Ancient Greek πλήσσω (plḗssō, “to strike”).[2] The Thesaurus reports a view that it first meant “to be flat, smooth”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to please, be liked or approved, usually with a dative.[4][7] Sibi placēre was to be pleased with oneself, and it was used of performers who won the audience's favour.[4] Impersonally placet meant “it is agreed, it seems good”, and as a reply it meant “agreed!”, sī dīs placet was “God willing”, often ironic.[4][8]

The Vulgate's placēbō Dominō “I shall please the Lord” named the Vespers of the Office of the Dead, and so gave English placebo.[9] It survives as Italian piacere, French plaire and Romanian plăcea.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4][6]
  • early 13th century – Placēbō names the Vespers of the Office of the Dead in English use.[9]
  • c. 1300 – English please is recorded, from Old French plaisir.[9]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To please, be pleasing or acceptable (to).[4][7]
  2. Sibi placēre, to be pleased with oneself, complacent.[4]
  3. Of performers, to win applause.[4][1]
  4. To be popular, come into favour.[4]
  5. Impersonally placet, it seems good, it is resolved; as a reply, agreed![4][1]
  6. Sī dīs placet, God willing; often ironic.[4]

Word family

  • complaceō
  • displiceō
  • perplaceō
  • placentia
  • placibilis
  • placidus
  • placitō
  • placitum
  • plācō
  • benēplaceō
  • placitus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  9. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com