solidus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɔ.lɪ.dʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɔː.li.dus]^[1]

Forms

solidus (feminine solida, neuter solidum, comparative solidior, superlative solidissimus, adverb solidē); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *soliþo-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂-i-dʰh₁-o- (“entire”).^[2] De Vaan rejects a derivation from soleō “to be accustomed” on grounds of meaning and connects it with salvus and sollus “whole”, from the root Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole”).^[2][1] The OLD also calls it probably cognate with these.^[3] A contracted form soldus appears in Varro and Horace.^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards.^[2] In Plautus a man brings his friend “a solid greeting”, a complete one.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant made of the same material throughout, and of coins pure; in colloquial Latin it meant thorough or absolute.^[3] It meant not hollow, as Cicero's solid wall, tightly packed, firm under pressure, and of ground firm, so that the neuter solidum was firm ground.^[3]

Of qualities it meant substantial and lasting, as Cicero's “solid praise”, and it meant whole, entire, full.^[3] As a masculine noun solidus became the name of a gold coin, in medieval Latin also a shilling, and in medieval Latin wages.^[3][1][5] English solid came from it through Old French in the late 14th century, and solidus was borrowed as the name of the coin then too.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in the sense “complete”.^[3][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a solid wall and of lasting praise.^[3][5]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses the contracted form soldus.^[3][5]
• late 14th century – English solid and solidus are recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Made of one material throughout, (of coins) pure.^[3]
2. (colloquial) Thorough, absolute.^[3]
3. Not hollow, solid; dense, compact.^[3][1]
4. Firm, hard, (neuter noun) firm ground.^[3][1]
5. Real, substantial, lasting.^[3][1]
6. Whole, entire, (neuter noun) a whole.^[3][1]
7. Full, complete.^[3]

Noun

1. A solidus, a gold coin.^[3][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) A shilling; pay, wages.^[1][5]

Word family

• īnsolidus
• praesolidus
• solidipēs
• soliditās
• solidō

Related words

• salvus
• sollus
• English solid
• English solidus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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 l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com