fortis Latin · revision 2748

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=c. 450 BC, Twelve Tables}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɔr.tɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɔr.tis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fortis''' (neuter forte, comparative fortior, superlative fortissimus, adverb fortiter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The Twelve Tables and Festus have ''forctis'', ''forctus'' and ''horctus'', and the ablative ''forte'' occurs in Gellius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*forkti-]], continued by Old Latin [[m|la|forctis]] and the dialectal [[m|la|horctus]], which Festus glosses as “good”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Its further origin is disputed, since neither form nor meaning is specific enough to decide.^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan finds [[farcio|alt=farcīre]] “to stuff” the best match within Latin, from a Proto-Indo-European *bʰorg-to- “stuffed”, and as an alternative the Indo-Iranian and Baltic words for “to make firm”, if they continue *dʰerǵʰ-, which the TLL also favours, comparing [[sa|दृढ|tr=dr̥ḍhá-|t=firm]] and [[lt|diržti|t=to harden]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Walde and Hofmann, Pokorny and Etymonline connect it with [[ine-pro|*bʰerǵʰ-|t=high, elevated]], the root of [[sa|बृहत्|tr=br̥hánt-|t=great]] and [[sga|brí|t=hill]], which de Vaan says does not explain the meaning.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Pokorny 1959)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) Georges thought of [[firmus|alt=fīrmus]] and [[fretus|alt=frētus]], and Isidore of Seville derived it from [[fero|alt=ferre]], “because it bears adversity”.^(Georges 1913)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is attested in the Twelve Tables, in the old form ''forctis'',^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) and Cato says that farmers breed the [[m|en|strong|alt=strongest]] men and the most energetic soldiers.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Physically it meant strong, hardy or vigorous, of people, animals, plants and things, in robust health, of strapping build, in the prime of manhood (''fortior aetas''), and, of winds, light, sounds, wines and medicines, strong or potent.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of cities it meant powerful, of arguments convincing, of remedies drastic, of speech vigorous and bold, and Terentianus Maurus even calls the letter ''s'' the strongest.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Its commonest sense became moral: [[m|en|brave]], resolute, courageous, as in Terence's ''fortis fortuna adiuvat'', “fortune helps the brave”, and of soldiers gallant or decorated for valour; colloquially it meant honourable or decent.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Medieval Latin used it for powerful, big or bulky, for rich and for severe, and as a noun for a hero, a ruler, a coin of full weight, a fortress and an important matter.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010) It survives as French ''fort'', Italian and Portuguese ''forte'', Spanish ''fuerte'' and Romanian ''foarte'' “very”,^(Wiktionary) and English [[m|en|fort]] (mid-15th century) and [[m|en|forte]] (1640s) come through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables have ''forctis''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a strapping woman and of a brave man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato says farming breeds the strongest men.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence has ''fortis fortuna adiuvat''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of vigorous oratory and of a brave army.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a strong proof.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * first half of the 9th century – Hrabanus Maurus uses it as a noun.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – [[en|fort|alt=Fort]] is borrowed into English through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|strong|alt=Strong]], robust, vigorous; in good health; of strapping build; in the prime of manhood.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Stout, tough, of things; strong, of winds, light or sounds; potent, of wines or medicines.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Powerful, of cities; convincing, of proofs; drastic, of remedies; vigorous, of speech.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|brave|alt=Brave]], courageous, resolute; gallant, decorated for valour.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Honourable, decent.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Powerful, big, bulky; rich; severe.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A hero; a ruler; a coin of full weight; a [[m|en|fortress]]; an important matter.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cōnfortō]]

+ * [[fortescō]]

+ * [[forticulus]]

+ * [[fortificō]]

+ * [[fortitūdō]]

+ * [[fortiusculus]]

+ * [[perfortiter]]

+ * [[praefortis]]

+ * [[fortia]]

+ * [[fortificātiō]]

+ * [[fortiter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[firmus]]

+ * [[en|fort]]

+ * [[en|force]]

+ * [[en|effort]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Oscan adverb ''fortis'' on the Tabula Bantina has been read as “rather” or “more strongly”, and de Vaan thinks the word may be borrowed from Latin.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}