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plene

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word plene

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
81–43 BC, Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin plēnus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin plenus
French plein
Italian pieno
Latin plene
From the same root
Latin plenitas ← plenus

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈpɫeː.neː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈplɛː.ne][1]

Forms

plēnē (comparative plēnius, superlative plēnissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin plēnus (“full”) + -ē.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,[3] who writes to his brother, if you cannot avoid this entirely.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means entirely, completely, as in Cicero, and in full measure, abundantly: Horace speaks of baths that a man praises as making a life fully happy.[2] It is also lavishly, as an inscription records games given most generously, and of sound with a fuller tone, as Horace's Alcaeus sounding more fully on his golden plectrum.[2] In law the jurist Javolenus says an emperor's favour should be interpreted as widely as possible.[2]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of doing something completely.[2][3]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace of a full life and a fuller sound.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Entirely, completely, fully.[2][1]
  2. In full measure, abundantly; lavishly; with a full sound.[2]
  3. (law) Widely, in a wide sense.[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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Plene.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/plene. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·