disertus Latin · revision 30986

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ser-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [dɪˈsɛr.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [diˈs̬ɛr.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''disertus''' (feminine diserta, neuter disertum, superlative disertissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably from ⟨dissertus⟩, the past participle of [[m|la|disserō|t=to set out in words, discuss]], and de Vaan lists it among that verb's derivatives.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) The TLL prefers a compound of [[m|la|dis-]] and [[m|la|artus|t=tight, close]], with the meaning drawn towards ⟨disserō⟩;^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary suggests a back-formation from [[m|la|disertim|t=plainly]].^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces ⟨serō⟩ “to join” to [[ine-pro|*ser-|t=to thread, tie together]], the root of [[grc|εἴρω|tr=eírō|t=to string together]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan gives Plautus as its first author.^(de Vaan 2008) In Terence's ''Eunuchus'' a man says he thought someone clever and well-spoken, ''callidum et disertum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is skilled in speaking or writing, eloquent, and of speech or writings skilfully expressed: Cicero calls a history neither too halting nor perfectly polished.^(OLD 2012) Vitruvius uses it of sound, clear and distinct.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “eloquent, fluent”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of a well-spoken man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of well-written history.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of clear sound.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Skilled in speaking, [[m|en|eloquent]], fluent;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''(of speech)'' well expressed.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

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

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[disertim]]

+ * [[disertitūdō]]

+ * [[indisertus]]

+ * [[perdisertus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[disserō]]

+ * [[serō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''disertus'' and [[fācundus]], a natural gift for speaking, from [[ēloquēns]], an art acquired by training: ''disertus'' speaks clearly and precisely, ''fācundus'' with grace and beauty;^(Döderlein 1874) Cicero reports Antonius as saying he had seen many ''disertī'' but no one truly ''ēloquēns''.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}