satis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsa.tɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsaː.tis]^[1]

Forms

satis (comparative satius, no superlative)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sati- (“satiation, satisfaction”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂-ti-, from the root Proto-Indo-European *seh₂- (“to satiate”).^[2][1] Walde and Hofmann took it as a frozen nominative of a noun meaning “satisfaction”, and the short form sat from *satis before a consonant, or from satis est shortened to sat est.^[2] Cognate with Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌸𐍃 (saþs, “full”), Old English sæd (“sated”) and Ancient Greek ἅδην (hádēn, “enough”).^[3][1] satur “full” is from the same root.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius.^[2] Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

As a noun it meant “enough”, satis superque “enough and to spare”, and satis habēre “to be content”, and in law satis was sufficient security, as in satis accipere.^[3] As an adverb it meant sufficiently, enough, and then more loosely “quite, rather”; its comparative satius meant “better, preferable”.^[3] Satin introduced emphatic questions in comedy.^[3] Döderlein distinguishes it, a sufficient measure, from affatim and abunde, which suggest too much rather than too little.^[5]

In Medieval Latin it came to mean “very”, and with a comparative “much”, and also “too”.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses satis habēre and satin.^[3][4]
• Middle Ages – It comes to mean “very”.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. Enough, a sufficient amount, satis superque, enough and more.^[3]
2. (law) Sufficient security, a guarantee.^[3]

Adverb

1. Sufficiently, adequately.^[3]
2. Fairly, quite, well enough.^[3]
3. (Medieval Latin) Very, (with a comparative) much; too.^[6]

Word family

• satiō
• satisacceptiō
• satisdō
• satisfaciō

Related words

• sānus
• satur
• English satisfy
• English sad

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill