leviter Latin · revision 31026

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=ine-pro *h₁legʷʰ-u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɫɛ.wɪ.tɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈlɛː.vi.ter]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''leviter''' (comparative levius, superlative levissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|levis|t=light]] with the adverbial suffix [[m|la|-ter]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces ⟨levis⟩ to [[itc-pro|*leχu-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₁legʷʰ-u-|t=light]], cognate with [[grc|ἐλαχύς|tr=elakhús|t=small]], [[sa|रघु|tr=raghú-|t=swift]] and [[got|𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃|tr=leihts|t=light]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest example is Cato's advice to tie young vine shoots loosely (''leviter'') in ''On Agriculture''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is lightly, with light equipment, and without force, gently, softly (Varro's murmuring is speaking so softly as to be heard rather than understood), and of sleep not deeply (Seneca).^(OLD 2012) It is slightly, a little, as Cicero's matter that is even slightly probable, and easily or mildly: ''leviter ferre'' is to take something calmly, and ''ut levissimē dīcam'' “to put it mildly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also means fickly or thoughtlessly, as Caelius' Curio, who went over to the people on a whim, and without good reason (Lucretius).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin it also meant easily, without trouble.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of tying vines loosely.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of “without good reason”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of “slightly” and “mildly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of “easily”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Lightly (armed).^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|gently|alt=Gently]], lightly; softly, ''(of sleep)'' not deeply.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|slightly|alt=Slightly]], a little.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Easily, ''leviter ferre'', to take calmly.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # Mildly, ''ut levissimē dīcam'', to put it mildly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Fickly, thoughtlessly; groundlessly.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[levis]]

+ * [[levitās]]

+ * [[levō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The OLD has a separate adverb ''lēviter'', “smoothly, evenly”, from [[lēvis]] “smooth”, a different word with a long vowel.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}