velociter

Forms

vēlōciter (comparative vēlōcius, superlative vēlōcissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vēlōx (“swift”) + -ter.^[2][1] De Vaan suggests that vēlōx meant “wind-like”, from an old noun Proto-Indo-European *h₂weh₁-lo- (“wind”) built on the root *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”),^[3] which also gave Sanskrit वाति (vā́ti) and Ancient Greek ἄησι (áēsi), both “blows”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,^[4] whose Timaeus has the superlative vēlōcissumē of the things that moved most swiftly.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is with speed of movement, swiftly:^[2] Caesar's enemies fall back very swiftly, Ovid's Iris is sent quickly to the hall of Sleep, and Quintilian speaks of the aim of writing well and fast.^[2][5] From Pliny the Elder on it also meant in a short time, quickly: laurels age quickly but sprout again from the roots, and Juvenal says that examples of vice at home corrupt us more quickly.^[2][5]

Medieval writers kept both senses:^[6] Anselm warns that prayers are not to be read hurriedly and quickly but slowly and with meditation.^[6]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses the superlative of swift motion.^[2][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of enemies falling back.^[2][4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of laurels ageing quickly.^[2][4]
• 2nd half of the 11th century–1109 – Anselm uses it of reading prayers hastily.^[6][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Swiftly, rapidly, at speed.^[2][7]
2. In a short time, quickly.^[2][5]

Related words

• vēlōx

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c 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
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press