Etymologically

Etymology and origin of the Latin word saporo

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 160–220 AD, Tertullian
Ultimate origin
Latin sapor
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin sapor
Latin saporo

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [saˈpoː.roː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [saˈpɔː.ro][1]

Forms

sapōrō (present infinitive sapōrāre, perfect active sapōrāvī, supine sapōrātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sapor (“taste, flavour”), with the verbal ending -ō.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

VoLat cites it from Tertullian,[4] meaning to make tasty, to season.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

It is a Late Latin verb for flavouring food.[1][2] Dracontius uses it in his poem on the praises of God,[3][5] and Fulgentius has it figuratively, of style “seasoned” with Attic wit (Atticā saporante salsurā).[2][3]

The past participle saporatus is recorded separately by Georges.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it, according to VoLat.[4][6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (transitive, Late Latin) To flavour, make tasty, season.[1][2][3]
  2. (figurative) To give flavour to (style or speech).[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  3. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c VoLat: Vocabolario della Lingua Latina (2018), Milan: Hoepli
  5. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Saporo.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/saporo. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·