vilis Latin · revision 18060

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *wes-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwiː.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈviː.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vīlis''' (neuter vīle, comparative vīlior, superlative vīlissimus); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*wesli-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*wes-li-|t=that can be bought]], a deverbal adjective with passive meaning.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The expected ⟨*vēlis⟩ was raised to ⟨vīlis⟩, perhaps under the influence of the ⟨v⟩ (Watkins).^(de Vaan 2008) The root is that of [[m|la|vēnum|t=sale]], cognate with [[hit|wāš-|t=to buy]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) The OLD calls the etymology doubtful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has ''nec quicquam hīc vīle nunc est nisi mōrēs malī'', “nothing is cheap here now but bad morals”, and ''quantī eam ēmit? vīlī'', “how much did he pay for her? little”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Vīlis'' is first “cheap, costing little”, the opposite of ''cārus'', and in the ablative or genitive “cheaply”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) From this it means “of little value, worthless”, “contemptible” (Plautus calls a phrase ''vīlissumum''), and “of little account” (Cicero: my life ought not to be cheap to the Roman people).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is also “low, mean” in rank or station, and of plants and products “common, ordinary” (Virgil: ''vīlem phasēlum'', “the humble kidney bean”).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “cheap, vile, base, worthless, common”;^(Stelten 1995) in medieval Latin it is “of servile or dependent status”.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|vile]] comes from it through Old French about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''nec quicquam hīc vīle nunc est''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''vīlis meus spīritus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil: ''vīlem phasēlum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English [[m|en|vile]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|cheap]], inexpensive.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Of little value, [[m|en|worthless]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|contemptible]], base; of little account.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Low, mean (in rank); common, ordinary.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Of servile or dependent status.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ēvīlēscō]]

+ * [[vīlēscō]]

+ * [[vīlificō]]

+ * [[vīlipendium]]

+ * [[vilipendō]]

+ * [[vīlitās]]

+ * [[vīliter]]

+ * [[vīlitō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vēnum]]

+ * [[vēndō]]

+ * [[en|vile]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}