Etymologically
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subrideo

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sʊbˈriː.de.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [subˈriː.de.o][1]

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

  1. To smile.[2][4][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de