strenuus

Forms

strēnuus (feminine strēnua, neuter strēnuum, comparative strēnuior, superlative strēnuissimus or strēnuissumus, adverb strēnuē); first/second-declension adjective^[1] The old form strēnuos is found in Plautus.^[2]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[1] The OLD compares Greek στρηνής (strēnḗs, “strong, harsh”), στρηνύζω (strēnúzō, “to be wanton”) and English stern;^[2] Etymonline also takes it as probably cognate with the Greek word.^[3] Wiktionary suggests Proto-Indo-European *(s)treg- (“to be stiff, strong”), perhaps an extension of Proto-Indo-European *ster- (“stiff”),^[1] and Lewis and Short compared στερεός (stereós, “firm, hard”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Naevius' Bellum Punicum has “many other active men from Troy”;^[2] Köbler too gives Naevius.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Of people it is active, vigorous, energetic, brisk or prompt, as in Naevius, and often joined with fortis or bonus, as Cicero's “Quintus Fufius, a brave and active man”.^[2][4][1] Of acts and bearing it is vigorous, as Plautus' “to do a bold deed”.^[2] In a bad sense it is restless or turbulent, as Tacitus' men in both armies who were wicked and restless.^[2] Of poisons and remedies it is quick to act, as Curtius' quick remedy.^[2]

Church Latin glosses it “steadfast, vigorous, brisk, active, strenuous, prompt, resolute”.^[6] English strenuous (mid-15th century) is from it.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius of active men from Troy.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a bold deed.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero of a brave and active man.^[2][5]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus of restless soldiers.^[2][5]
• mid-15th century – English strenuous is from it.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Active, vigorous, energetic, brisk, prompt.^[2][4][1][6]
2. (pejorative) Restless, turbulent.^[2]
3. (of remedies, poisons) Quick to take effect.^[2]

Word family

• īnstrēnuus
• strēnuē
• strēnuitās

Related words

• fortis
• English strenuous

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 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 Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson