solitus

Forms

solitus (feminine solita, neuter solitum); first and second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the past participle of soleō (“to be accustomed”) used as an adjective.^[1][2][3] The origin of the verb is disputed: de Vaan rejects a derivation from the root of suēscō (“to become used to”) and reports the proposal of a Proto-Indo-European *sol-éye- (“to be accustomed”) cognate with Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (saljan), perhaps also with solum (“ground”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Virgil, Aeneid: Ō sī solitae quicquam virtūtis adesset!, “if only something of our usual courage were here!”^[1][3]

Semantic evolution

It is usual, accustomed or normal.^[1] The neuter solitum is what is customary, and praeter, super or ultrā solitum is beyond what is usual, as Virgil's rooks happier than usual.^[1] With a comparative solitō is “than usual”.^[1] Church Latin glosses it “usual, customary”.^[5]

Timeline

• 70–19 BC – Virgil of “usual” courage and in praeter solitum.^[1][3]
• c. 20 BC–30 AD – Velleius Paterculus of what is customary.^[1][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Usual, accustomed, normal.^[1][5]
2. (neuter as noun) What is customary, praeter solitum, beyond the usual, solitō (with a comparative), than usual.^[1]

Related words

• soleō
• īnsolēns
• obsolētus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson