satur

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsa.tʊr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsaː.tur]^[1]

Forms

satur (feminine satura, neuter saturum); first/second-declension adjective (nominative masculine singular in -ur)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *saturo- (“well-fed”), from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂- (“to satiate”), the root of satis “enough”.^[2][1][3] The form ⟨satur⟩ is presumably syncopated from earlier ⟨*saturos⟩, formed with the suffix ⟨*-rós⟩ on a u-stem noun ⟨*s(e)h₂-tu-⟩ “satiation”, perhaps cognate with Lithuanian sótus (“satiated”).^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, ubi satur sum “when I am full”, opposed to quandō ēsuriō.^[3][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant full of food, well-fed, sated, of people often implying excess, as in Plautus and Terence; of places rich in stock or produce, as in Virgil; saturated with liquid, and of dyes rich, full, as in Seneca; and of topics rich in interest, as in Cicero.^[3][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant full, sated.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for well-fed, satisfied.^[7] Its derivatives include saturō “to fill” and satura.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of topics.^[3][5]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of places.^[3][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Well-fed, replete, sated.^[3]
2. (of places) Rich in stock or produce.^[3]
3. Saturated, (of dyes) rich, full.^[3]
4. (of topics) Rich in interest.^[3]

Word family

• satullus
• satura
• saturō
• satiō
• satira

Related words

• satis

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b 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 j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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