supplex

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsʊp.pɫɛks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsup.pleks]^[1]

Forms

supplex (genitive supplicis, adverb suppliciter); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1] The ablative is supplicī, or supplice especially as a noun and in verse.^[2][3] Also spelled subplex.^[3]

Etymology

The OLD derives it probably from ⟨*sub-placos⟩, related to plācō “to appease” and placeō, with the sense “bringing peace offerings”; compare supplicō.^[2] Wiktionary derives it from ⟨supplicō⟩, and Gaffiot glosses it as “bending the knees”.^[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, “suppliant”.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant humbly entreating, suppliant, kneeling in prayer, as in Plautus and Cicero, and of things expressing supplication, as in Cicero; as a noun it was a suppliant.^[2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means humble, submissive, beseeching, and as a noun a humble petitioner.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Suppliant, humbly begging.^[2][3]
2. Expressing supplication.^[2]
3. (noun) A suppliant, petitioner.^[4][6]

Word family

• supplicium

Related words

• supplicō
• plācō
• English supplicate

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c 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