suavis Latin · revision 2907

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *sweh₂d-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsʷaː.wɪs], [suˈaː.wɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsʷaː.vis], [suˈaː.vis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''suāvis''' (neuter suāve, comparative suāvior, superlative suāvissimus, adverb suāve or suāviter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*swādu-|t=sweet]], [[inh|ine-pro|*sweh₂d-u-|t=sweet]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The u-stem was remade as an i-stem, *swādwi-, as all such adjectives were, and the /d/ was then lost before /w/.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The verb [[suadeo|alt=suādeō]] “to advise” comes from the same root, as a causative “to make agreeable”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[sa|स्वादु|tr=svādú-|t=sweet]], [[grc|ἡδύς|tr=hēdús|t=sweet, pleasant]], [[ang|swōt|t=sweet]] and [[en|sweet]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In Plautus a parasite boasts that he is “sweeter boiled than roasted”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant pleasant to the taste, and also free of salt or bitterness; pleasant to the nose, fragrant; and sweet-sounding, as Ennius' “sweet voice of Egeria”.^(OLD 2012) It was used of things pleasant to look at.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Most often it meant pleasant to the mind or feelings: of people charming or delightful, and in everyday speech a vague word of praise, “nice”, as in Cicero's ''mi suavissime Volumni''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It survives as Italian ''soave'' and Old French ''soef''.^(Wiktionary) English took ''suave'' in the 15th century, and ''assuage'' came from a Vulgar Latin verb built on it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of taste and of a sweet song.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a sweet voice and a charming man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it as a term of affection.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''assuage'' comes through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – English ''suave'' is first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Sweet, pleasant (to the taste).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|Fragrant]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Sweet-sounding, [[m|en|melodious]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Pleasant to look at.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Pleasant, delightful, charming, ''(colloquial)'' nice.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[suāvitās]]

+ * [[suāvitūdō]]

+ * [[suāviter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[suādeō]]

+ * [[en|suave]]

+ * [[en|assuage]]

+ * [[en|persuade]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''suavis'', properly a pleasant smell and a calm pleasure, from ''dulcis'', a pleasant taste and a livelier pleasure, so that ''dulcis'' is the stronger word.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}