tacitus Latin · revision 18117

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *tHk-eh₁-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tacitus''' (feminine tacita, neuter tacitum); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of [[m|la|taceō|t=to be silent]], used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan derives [[m|la|taceō]] from [[itc-pro|*tak-ē-|t=to be silent]], from [[ine-pro|*tHk-eh₁-]];^(de Vaan 2008) Umbrian [[m|xum|taçez|t=silent]] continues the same participle ⟨*takēto-⟩, and the Germanic verb survives in [[got|𐌸𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽|tr=þahan|t=to keep silent]] and [[non|þegja]].^(de Vaan 2008) He rejects the LIV's link with [[grc|πτήσσω|tr=ptḗssō|t=to cower]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) who has ''tacitī auscultēmus'', “let us listen in silence”, and ''tacita bonast mulier semper quam loquēns'', “a woman is always better silent than talking”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Tacitus'' is “silent, not speaking”, of the mind and of prayers “unspoken”, of things “noiseless” (Virgil: ''tacitīs … undīs'', “silent waves”), and of sound “hushed, low”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Of feelings it is “inward, not shown”, and of agreements “implied, tacit” (Cicero: ''tacita lēx est hūmānitātis'', “it is an unwritten law of humanity”).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also means “not mentioned, passed over in silence” (Terence) and, in Lucan and later, “hidden, secret”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “silent”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval law it is used of a claimant who waives his claim and of a claim that is dropped.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''tacitī auscultēmus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of things kept quiet.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''tacita lēx est hūmānitātis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 39–65 AD – Lucan uses it of hidden things.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|silent]], not speaking, quiet.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Unspoken (of the mind or of prayers).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Noiseless (of things); hushed, low (of sound).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Inward, not shown (of feelings).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Implied, [[m|en|tacit]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Not mentioned, passed over in silence.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Hidden, [[m|en|secret]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, law)'' Waiving (of a claimant); dropped (of a claim).^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[taceō]]

+ * [[tacitē]]

+ * [[reticeō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''[[sileō|alt=silēre]]'', to be still, the opposite of making a noise, from ''tacēre'', to be silent, the opposite of speaking.^(Döderlein 1874) As a proper name ''Tacitus'' is a cognomen, borne by the historian Cornelius Tacitus, born about AD 56.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}