vegetus

Forms

vegetus (feminine vegeta, neuter vegetum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vegeō (“to be active, rouse”).^[2][3][1] De Vaan points out that a short ⟨e⟩ in this position is unexpected in Latin, so the second vowel is at most due to assimilation to the first, from an older ⟨*vegitus⟩.^[3] The verb is related to Sanskrit वाजयति (vājáyati, “impels”) and Old High German wahhēn (“to be awake”); de Vaan notes that it died out after the Republic, Lucretius being the last author to use it.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro,^[3] who uses it in an etymology of vitulus “calf”: the word is from Greek, or because most calves are lively, vegeti.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it means vigorous and active, of people, animals and bodily movements such as the pulse, and of a lively rhythm.^[2] Cicero applies it to the mind, which in sleep can show itself alert for dreaming, and Seneca the Elder to lively expression.^[2] Pliny the Elder uses it of a vivid colour.^[2]

Döderlein distinguishes it from vigēns, fresh and strong in body and mind, and vīvidus, full of life and energy: vegetus is alert and animated in mind.^[4] In Ecclesiastical Latin it keeps the sense of strong, brisk and active.^[5]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of lively calves.^[2][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero applies it to the mind in sleep.^[2][6]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy contrasts tired soldiers with fresh and vigorous ones.^[7][6]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a vivid colour.^[2][6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Vigorous, active, lively; of movement or rhythm, brisk.^[2][7]
2. Invigorating.^[2]
3. Of the mind or of expression, alert, lively, vivid.^[2][7]
4. Of colour, vivid.^[2]

Related words

• vegeō
• vigeō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
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
7. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press