idoneus Latin · revision 30800

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɪˈdoː.ne.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [iˈdɔː.ne.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''idōneus''' (feminine idōnea, neuter idōneum, comparative magis idōneus, superlative maximē idōneus, adverb idōneē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The jurists in the Digest have the comparatives ''idōneior'' and ''idōnior''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unknown.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan notes that it could be an adjective in ⟨-neus⟩ from an adverb ⟨*idō⟩ “there” or a stem ⟨*ido-⟩, or one in ⟨-eus⟩ from ⟨*idōn⟩, but that neither leads to a likely etymology.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary reports Brugmann's derivation from an unattested adverb ⟨*idō⟩, as [[m|la|ultrōneus]] is from [[m|la|ultrō]] and [[m|la|extrāneus]] from [[m|la|extrā]].^(Wiktionary) Lewis & Short linked it with a Sanskrit root “to kindle”, “bright, conspicuous”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Terence has ''nequeō … initium ūllum invenīre idōneum unde exōrdiar'', “I can't find any suitable point to start from”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Idōneus'' is “having the right qualities, suitable, fit, adequate”, of persons and things.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In law it means “solvent, able to meet one's obligations”, of a debtor or a guarantor.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says it denotes a passive fitness, made fit by qualities or circumstances, and ''[[aptus]]'' an active one.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “suitable, sufficient, proper”.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin uses it of an accused man cleared of a charge, of a trustworthy witness, and of a person able to go to law.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''initium … idōneum''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|suitable]], fit, proper, apt.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Adequate, [[m|en|sufficient]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(law)'' [[m|en|solvent|alt=Solvent]], able to pay.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Cleared, innocent; trustworthy (of a witness).^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[idōneitās]]

+ * [[peridōneus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[idōneē]]

+ * [[aptus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}