sublimiter

Forms

sublīmiter (comparative sublīmius)^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin sublīmis (“raised aloft, lofty”) + -ter.^[1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cato,^[4] who prescribes that certain things be gathered, pounded and given while kept off the ground (sublimiter legi teri darique oportet).^[1][2]

Semantic evolution

Later writers use it of height: Columella of flying high, and Ovid's Halieutica of a victor who raises his head higher.^[1][3][2] Tacitus, in the Dialogus, and Quintilian use it of speaking in a grander, more elevated style,^[1][3] and Fronto has it too.^[2] In Church Latin it means aloft or sublimely.^[5]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of things kept off the ground.^[1][4]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of flying high.^[2][4]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses the comparative of a lofty style.^[3][4]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses the comparative of elevated speech.^[1][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. On high, to a great height; so as to be raised off the ground.^[1][2]
2. In a grand or elevated style, sublimely.^[1][3][5]

Related words

• sublīmis

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson