Etymology and origin of the Latin word subrideo
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 116–27 BC, Varro
- Ultimate origin
- Latin (rīdeō)
Forms
subrīdeō (present infinitive subrīdēre, perfect active subrīsī, supine subrīsum); second conjugation[1]
Etymology
It is from Latin sub- (“under, slightly”) + rīdeō (“to laugh”).[2][1] De Vaan finds no good Indo-European etymology for rīdeō.[3]
Earliest recorded meaning
De Vaan dates it from Varro,[3] who has Axius speak to Appius with a smile.[4]
Semantic evolution
It means to smile.[2] Cicero writes subridet Saturius, “Saturius smiles”.[4] Virgil has a smile mixed with anger, Ovid a smile with sidelong eyes, and Martial a moderate smile;[4] Apuleius and Ammianus speak of a bitter smile.[4] Church Latin keeps the sense.[5]
Timeline
- 116–27 BC – Varro, of speaking with a smile.[4][3][6]
- 81–43 BC – Cicero.[4][6]
- 70–19 BC – Virgil, of a smile mixed with anger.[4][6]
- c. 390 AD – Ammianus, of a bitter smile.[4][6]
Meanings
Verb
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
- ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry
“Subrideo.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/subrideo. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.
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