satura

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsa.tʊ.ra]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsaː.tu.ra]^[1]

Forms

satura f (genitive saturae); first declension^[1] Also spelled satira (and satyra) in the literary senses.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is apparently the feminine of satur “full, sated”, from the phrase ⟨lanx satura⟩ “a full dish”.^[2][1][3] The OLD suggests that the dramatic and literary senses may instead be of Etruscan origin.^[2] Köbler calls its origin unclear.^[4] The spelling ⟨satira⟩, ⟨satyra⟩ arose from the mistaken notion that it was connected with Ancient Greek σάτυρος (sáturos, “satyr”) and the satyr drama.^[1] Isidore says the ⟨lēx satura⟩ was so called from the abundance of matters it dealt with, and that writing ⟨saturae⟩ means composing varied poems.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.^[4] The OLD's earliest citation for per saturam “en bloc” is from the orator Annius and Lucilius.^[2]

Semantic evolution

According to Varro it was a dish of mixed ingredients, raisins, barley and pine nuts in mead, and Gaffiot describes it as a plate of all kinds of fruit, a medley.^[2][6] Per saturam meant all together, en bloc, of a bill combining several measures, and in Sallust of opinions asked at random.^[2][6] Livy uses it of an early dramatic medley with music and dance, and Quintilian and Gellius of Varro's mixture of prose and verse, which Varro called Menippean.^[2] From Horace it meant a poem attacking vice and folly, satire, and Quintilian claims satura quidem tōta nostra est “satire at least is wholly ours”.^[2] Juvenal writes difficile est saturam nōn scrībere “it is hard not to write satire”.^[2]

In British Medieval Latin it meant a poem mocking vice or folly, especially Juvenal's.^[7] English satire came about 1500 from French satire and directly from Latin satira.^[3]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius has the word.^[4]
• c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses per saturam.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy describes the early stage saturae.^[2][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of his satires.^[2][4]
• c. 1500 – English satire is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A dish of mixed ingredients, a medley.^[2][6]
2. per saturam, all together, en bloc.^[2]
3. An early dramatic medley; a mixture of prose and verse.^[2]
4. A poem attacking vice, satire; satirical style.^[2]

Related words

• satur
• satis
• English satire

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
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