prolificus

Forms

prolifĭcus (feminine prolifĭca, neuter prolifĭcum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin prōlēs (“offspring”) + -ficus.^[2][3] Conte labels it Medieval Latin.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS cites it from the medical writings of John of Gaddesden and Kymer, of fertile semen.^[2] The first dated example is a letter of Coluccio Salutati of 1392–1394, which calls sexual union delightful and prolific.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant “producing offspring, generative” in medical writing.^[2] Humanists used it more widely: Pico della Mirandola writes of a prolific moisture in his work against astrology, Budé of a mind and body that cannot both be fruitful, and Simon Grynaeus of the fruitful marriage of heaven and earth.^[4] Italian prolifico comes from the Medieval Latin word,^[1] and English prolific (1640s) from French prolifique.^[3]

Timeline

• 1392–1394 – Coluccio Salutati uses it in a letter.^[4]
• 1517 – Budé uses it in a letter to Erasmus.^[4]
• 1534 – Simon Grynaeus uses it in a letter to Thomas More.^[4]
• 1640s – English takes prolific from French.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Producing offspring, generative, fertile, prolific.^[2][4][1]

Related words

• English prolific

References

1. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
2. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de