prolixe

Forms

prōlixē (comparative prōlixius, superlative prōlixissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prōlixus (“extended, long; generous”) + -ē, the adverb of that adjective.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Terence is the first to use it,^[4] for abundance and generosity: in the Eunuchus nobody entertains better or more lavishly, nēmō melius prōrsus neque prōlixius,^[2][5] and in the Heauton Timorumenos it describes hair spread loosely about the head.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it means fully and amply, often joined with cumulātē, and also willingly: he writes that the colonists of Campania were answering the levy without much eagerness, parum prōlixē.^[2][6] Tacitus, Fronto and Gellius use it with verbs of speaking and writing for at length or in detail,^[2][5] and Apuleius of things extending far in space, as trees leafy all over.^[2][6] Suetonius has the comparative for favouring something too much.^[6][2]

In Christian Latin it meant freely, abundantly or earnestly,^[7] and in medieval Latin chiefly at great length, of speech and writing, or for a long time.^[8]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it for lavish hospitality.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for full measure and for willingness.^[2][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of speaking at length.^[2][4]
• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses the comparative for wanting to know something in more detail.^[2][4]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of extension in space.^[2][4]
• before 1074 – Lanfranc regrets not having written more, and at greater length.^[8]

Meanings

Adverb

1. So as to extend a long way in space.^[2][5]
2. At length, in detail.^[2][5]
3. Abundantly, amply, lavishly.^[2][6]
4. Generously, kindly.^[2]
5. Willingly, wholeheartedly.^[2][6]
6. (Medieval Latin) For a long time.^[8]

Related words

• prōlixus

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 k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b c 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