laetor Latin · revision 30693

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''laetor''' (present infinitive laetārī, perfect active laetātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+ Inscriptions also spell it ''lētor''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|laetus|t=glad, joyful]], as the deponent beside [[m|la|laetō|t=to gladden]].^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The adjective has no accepted etymology: de Vaan finds Walde–Hofmann's and Pokorny's link with [[m|la|lāridum|t=bacon]] and [[m|la|largus|t=generous]], through an older sense “fat, rich”, very artificial.^(de Vaan 2008) Varro derived the verb from a joy spread more widely (⟨lātius⟩).^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, prologue to the ''Rudens'': ''post factum ut laetēminī'', “so that you may rejoice afterwards”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Laetor'' is to rejoice, be glad, with an ablative of the cause (Terence: it is not in our interest that a lover should rejoice at the wedding), an accusative and infinitive (Terence: I'm glad it turned out as you wished), ''in'' or ''dē'' with the ablative (Cicero), or a neuter pronoun.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The gerundive is “to be rejoiced at”.^(OLD 2012) With an ablative it also means to delight in (Cicero to his son: if you delight in such precepts), and Columella uses it of plants that flourish on a certain food.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts [[gaudeō|alt=gaudēre]], joy as an inward state of mind, with ''laetārī'', the outward expression of joy.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it “rejoice, be glad, be joyful, take delight in”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''post factum ut laetēminī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence with an ablative and with an accusative and infinitive.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of delighting in precepts.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella of flourishing plants.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|rejoice]], be glad, be delighted (at).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To [[m|en|delight]] (in), be fond (of).^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(of plants)'' To flourish (on); ''(of land)'' to luxuriate.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[laetus]]

+ * [[laetitia]]

+ * [[laetificus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}