sapidus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsa.pɪ.dʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsaː.pi.dus]^[1]

Forms

sapidus (feminine sapida, neuter sapidum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sapiō (“to taste, be wise”) + -idus.^[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨sapiō⟩ to Proto-Italic *sap-i-, from Proto-Indo-European *sh₁p-i- (“to notice”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Apicius, whom he dates to the 4th century AD.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant tasty, savoury, in the superlative sapidissimus.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant savoury, relishing.^[6] Medieval Latin used it for tasty, and British Medieval Latin also figuratively.^[7][8] English sapid (1630s, “affecting the organs of taste”) is from it, and its opposite īnsipidus gave insipid.^[3][1]

Timeline

• 4th century AD – Apicius uses it.^[5]
• 1630s – English sapid is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Tasty, savoury.^[2]

Word family

• īnsipidus

Related words

• sapiō
• sapor
• English sapid

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ 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