Etymologically
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similis

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsɪ.mɪ.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsiː.mi.lis][1]

Forms

similis (neuter simile, comparative similior, superlative simillimus, adverb similiter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *semali- (“alike, together”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sm̥h₂-el-i-, from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one, together”), through *semilis.[2][1][3] The adverb simul “together”, older semul, is from the same stem.[2] Cognate with Old Irish samail (“likeness”), Welsh hafal (“equal”), Ancient Greek ὁμαλός (homalós, “even, level”) and Gothic 𐍃𐌹𐌼𐌻𐌴 (simlē, “once”).[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Naevius says that someone is not like other parasites.[3][2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was similar or like, with the genitive in early Latin and the dative more often later, used in comparisons.[3][1] Vērī similis was “like the truth, likely, plausible”, the source of vērīsimilis, mōnstrī similis was “incredible”; and similis suī was “consistent, unchanged”.[3][5]

It survives as Romanian seamăn, and was borrowed as Italian simile.[1] English simile and similar come from it.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[3][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses mōnstrī similis “incredible”.[3][4]
  • late 14th century – English simile is recorded, from the neuter simile.[6]
  • 1610s – English similar is recorded, through French similaire.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Similar, like, resembling.[3][7]
  2. Vērī similis, likely, plausible.[3]
  3. Mōnstrī similis, incredible.[3]
  4. Similis suī, constant, unchanged.[3]
  5. Like each other.[3]
  • singulī
  • simul
  • simulō
  • English similar
  • English simile
  • English same

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 h i j k 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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press