serus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈseː.rʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛː.rus]^[1]

Forms

sērus (feminine sēra, neuter sērum, comparative sērior, superlative sērissimus, adverb sērō); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sēro- (“late”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁-ro- (“long-lasting, late”).^[2][1] Cognate with Old Irish sír (“lasting, eternal”) and Welsh hir (“long”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lucilius uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Lucilius c. 180–102 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was what comes after the normal time, belated or slow, of flowers and fruit ripening late, and too late, as in Sallust.^[3] Of time it was late in the day, as Varro's title “you don't know what the late evening may bring”, and far gone.^[3][5]

The neuter adverb sērō “late” and the noun sēra “evening” gave French soir and Italian sera.^[6][1] English soirée comes from French soir.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it.^[2][4]
• 116–27 BC – Varro titles a satire Nescis quid vesper serus vehat.^[5][4]
• 1793 – English soiree is recorded, from French soir.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Late, belated, slow, tardy.^[3][5]
2. Of plants, ripening or blossoming late.^[3]
3. Later; too late.^[3]
4. Late in the day; far gone.^[3][7]

Word family

• sera
• serum
• sērisapia
• seritas
• sērōtinus
• sērō

Related words

• sērius
• sētius
• English soiree

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 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. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
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