Etymologically
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serus

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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

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