deterior Latin · revision 30870

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deːˈtɛ.ri.ɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [deˈtɛː.ri.or]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēterior''' (comparative, neuter dēterius, positive *dēter, superlative dēterrimus); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a comparative formed from [[m|la|dē|t=down from]], like [[m|la|exterior]] and [[m|la|inferior]], Lewis and Short assume an unused positive ⟨*dēter⟩, “low”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Köbler compares the particle [[ine-pro|*de-]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Epidicus'': when a weaker man boasts of his fights to a braver one.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is worse in the sense of less pleasant or more serious, as Livy's captives in a worse condition than their fathers, and of quality lower or poorer: Cato's wine that will be no worse than Coan.^(OLD 2012) It is weaker or less valued, morally worse (Plautus: “I never saw anyone worse than you”), and more harmful, as a worse road.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it “inferior”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of the weaker man and of moral worth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of worse wine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a worse condition.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Less pleasant, more serious, [[m|en|worse]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Lower in quality, poorer, [[m|en|inferior]]; weaker; of less value.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Morally worse, more wicked.^(OLD 2012)

+ # More harmful, less expedient.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēteriōrō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dē]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein explains ''dēterior'' as a double comparative of ''dē'', of what has fallen from a good state, while [[peior]] is what has gone from bad to worse.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}