sociabilis

Forms

sociābilis (neuter sociābile); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from sociō “to unite, share” with the suffix -bilis, from socius “companion”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Livy, whom he dates 59 BC–17 AD, and Livy calls a partnership of two kings sociābilis.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant easily joined in partnership, and of a partnership close, intimate.^[2] Lewis & Short note that it is not ante-Augustan and very rare, and Seneca says nature made us sociābilēs.^[6] Pliny the Elder uses it of things that can be joined.^[5]

Bede and other British Medieval Latin writers used it for sociable, readily associating with others.^[7] It survives in Italian sociabile and Spanish sociable, and through French it gave English sociable in the 1550s.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it.^[4][5]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it.^[6][4]
• 1550s – English sociable is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Easily united; close, intimate.^[2]
2. Sociable.^[6]

Word family

• īnsociābilis

Related words

• socius
• sociō
• societās
• English sociable

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
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