profusus

Forms

profūsus (feminine profūsa, neuter profūsum, superlative profūsissimus); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

Used as an adjective, it is the perfect participle from Latin profundō (“to pour forth”), so first “poured out”.^[2][1][3] That verb is prō- with fundō “to pour”, which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *χund-(e/o-) and Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰu-n-d- (“to pour”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,^[5] who calls a man a ruined and extravagant spendthrift.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Of persons it is immoderate in spending, extravagant, prodigal; of things it is lavish or sumptuous: Cicero says the Roman people does not love lavish banquets, but much less meanness.^[2] In a good sense it is unboundedly generous, as Martial's gift from a generous chest.^[2] Of feelings and activities it is immoderate or excessive, as Cicero's excessive merriment, and also copious, plentiful.^[2] English profuse dates from the early 15th century, first “lavish, extravagant”.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero of a spendthrift and of lavish banquets.^[2][5]
• 40–102/103 AD – Martial of a generous giver.^[2][5]
• early 15th century – English profuse.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Extravagant, prodigal in spending; lavish, sumptuous.^[2][1]
2. Unboundedly generous, unstinting.^[2]
3. Immoderate, excessive; copious, profuse.^[2][1]

Related words

• profundō
• prōdigus
• English profuse

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes prōdigus, the squanderer who does not value money, from profūsus, the spendthrift who from levity thinks nothing too dear for his pleasures;^[6] helluō and nepōs name prodigality as the whole of a man's character.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper