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prospere

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word prospere

Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*speh₁-)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin prosperus
Latin prospere

Forms

prosperē (comparative prosperius, superlative prosperissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prosperus (“favourable, fortunate”) + -ē.[2][1] The OLD calls the origin of prosperus doubtful, noting Nonius' derivation from an adverbial phrase ⟨prō spērē⟩, perhaps a popular etymology;[2] Wiktionary takes its second part from Proto-Italic *-sparos and Proto-Indo-European *sph₁rós, from *speh₁- (“to succeed”), the root of spēs (“hope”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus.[3]

Semantic evolution

It means in a way agreeable to one's wishes, with good fortune, successfully.[2][1] Tacitus uses it of times of prosperity, of the gold that every age of the Roman people had dedicated for triumphs and vows in prosperity or in fear.[2] Gellius uses it of birds that fly ahead more auspiciously.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[3]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus of times of prosperity.[2][3]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius of birds of good omen.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Favourably, with good fortune, successfully.[2][1]
  2. In prosperity.[2]
  3. Auspiciously.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Prospere.” Etymologically, 19 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/prospere. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·