aptus Latin · revision 17983

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=ine-pro *h₁ep-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈap.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈap.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aptus''' (feminine apta, neuter aptum, comparative aptior, superlative aptissimus, adverb aptē); first/second-declension participle^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of [[m|la|apiō|t=to fasten]] or [[m|la|apīscor|t=to reach, obtain]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan sees no reason to keep them apart: both go back to [[itc-pro|*ap-(e)i-|t=to get, seize]] and [[ine-pro|*h₁p-i-|t=to get, grab]], and the double meaning of the participle, “tied” and “obtained”, is then natural.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Ennius,^(Köbler 2010) who has ''caelum … stellīs fulgentibus aptum'', “the sky fitted with shining stars”, and a hound ''vinclīs … apta'', “tied with leashes”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Aptus'' is first “tied, fastened” and “connected” (Cicero: causes all ''aptās inter sē'', “linked together”), and “dependent on, following from” (''ex sē aptus'', “self-dependent”).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is “fitted with”, “prepared, ready” (Caesar: ''omnia sibi esse ad bellum apta ac parāta'', “all was ready and prepared for war”), and “in good order”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Of persons it is “suited, able” for something, and of things “suitable, convenient, apt”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “fitting, suitable, appropriate, right”.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it is also “capable” and “agreed, accepted”.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|apt]] (14th century) comes from it, directly or through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius: ''caelum … stellīs fulgentibus aptum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius: ''restibus aptus'', “tied with ropes”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''aptās inter sē''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar: ''ad bellum apta ac parāta''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English [[m|en|apt]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Tied, fastened; connected.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Dependent (on).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Fitted or provided (with).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Prepared, [[m|en|ready]]; in good order.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Suited, able (for something).^(OLD 2012)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # [[m|en|suitable]], fitting, [[m|en|apt]], convenient.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Agreed, accepted.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ineptus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[apiō]]

+ * [[apīscor]]

+ * [[en|apt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}