Etymologically
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sollerter

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sɔlˈlɛr.tɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [solˈlɛr.ter][1]

Forms

sollerter (comparative sollertius, superlative sollertissimē).[2][3][4] Also spelled sōlerter.[3][5]

Etymology

It is from Latin sollers (“skilful, ingenious”) + -ter.[2][1] The adjective is a compound of sollus (“whole, entire”) and ars (“skill”), from ⟨*soll-arti-⟩.[6] De Vaan traces ⟨sollus⟩ to Proto-Italic *solno- (“whole”) and, with some uncertainty about the preform, to Proto-Indo-European *sol(h₂)-no- (“whole”).[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it first in Cicero,[7] who uses it in the De legibus and the superlative sollertissime in the Verrines.[5][3][4]

Semantic evolution

It means cleverly, skilfully or resourcefully.[2][5] Cicero has the comparative sollertius in the De natura deorum, and Ovid and Tacitus use the comparative too;[3][4] Livy has the positive, and Apuleius the superlative.[3][4]

In medieval Latin from Britain it also means diligently or assiduously: Bede uses it of careful instruction in metrics, and Asser says that King Alfred kept his handbook by him day and night solertissime.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in the De legibus and the Verrines.[5][3][7]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it.[4][7]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses the comparative.[3][7]
  • early 8th century – Bede uses it in the sense “diligently”.[8][7]
  • 893 – Asser uses the superlative of Alfred's handbook.[8][7]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Cleverly, skilfully, resourcefully.[2][5][4]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Diligently, assiduously.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d e f Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  7. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ a b c d 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