Etymologically
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tenuiter

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [tɛˈnu.ɪ.tɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [teˈnuː.i.ter][1]

Forms

tenuiter (comparative tenuïus, superlative tenuissimē, adjective tenuis)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin tenuis (“thin, fine, slight”) + -ter.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest use in the OLD is in Terence, where it means “poorly, meagrely”: asked how someone is doing, a character answers sīc, tenuiter, “so-so, poorly”.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it has a literal sense, “thinly, with little depth”, used by Caesar of thinly dressed leather,[2][4][5] and “finely”, of a powder sifted fine in Pliny the Elder.[2] From “meagrely” came “feebly, with slight force”: the Rhetorica ad Herennium has an answer given weakly and triflingly, and Cicero fears that he collects arguments too feebly.[2][4]

In rhetoric it described a plain, restrained style or a subtle argument: Cicero contrasts discussing a question tenuiter, in the philosophers' manner, with the orators' abundance, and Pliny the Younger praises mimiambi written finely, wittily and charmingly.[2][4][5] Aulus Gellius uses it for subtle distinctions.[2] Medieval writers in Britain still used it for “thinly”.[6]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it for “poorly”.[2][3]
  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it for “feebly”.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a plain style of discussion.[2][3]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of thin leather.[2][3]
  • c. 165 AD – Aulus Gellius uses it for subtle distinctions.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. With little depth, thinly.[2][4]
  2. In fine divisions, finely.[2]
  3. Meagrely, scantily, poorly.[2][4]
  4. With little force or effect, feebly.[2][4]
  5. Without ornament, plainly, simply; with restraint.[2][4]
  6. With fine distinctions, subtly.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  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. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press