commodus Latin · revision 31103

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=itc-pro *medo-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈkɔm.mɔ.dʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈkɔm.mo.dus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''commodus''' (feminine commoda, neuter commodum, comparative commodior, superlative commodissimus, adverb commodē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|com-]] and [[m|la|modus|t=measure]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) originally “that has the proper measure”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of ⟨modus⟩, which goes back to [[itc-pro|*medo-|t=measure, judgement]] and [[ine-pro|*med-o-|t=measure]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[xum|mers|t=law]] and [[osc|meddíss|t=magistrate]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Ennius as its first author,^(Köbler 2010) who calls a good companion “pleasant, eloquent … obliging”, while de Vaan gives Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus has it of full size, as a man “of proper stature”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ First it is of full size or weight, standard, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Commonly it is convenient or suitable, as Caesar's “a more suitable season for sailing”, opportune, as Plautus' “here he comes just in time”, and favourable or advantageous, as Terence's “good for you and for my reputation”.^(OLD 2012) Of health it is good, as Caesar's “he was in poor health” (''minus commoda'').^(OLD 2012) It is agreeable, and of persons pleasant and obliging, as in Ennius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ The neuter [[commodum]] became a noun “advantage, convenience” and an adverb “just then”, and the adverb is ''commodē''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses it “convenient, fit, polite”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of an obliging friend.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of full stature and of convenience.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of what is advantageous.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of good health and a suitable season.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of full size or weight, standard.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|convenient|alt=Convenient]], suitable.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|opportune|alt=Opportune]], timely.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Favourable, advantageous, (of health) good.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Agreeable, (of persons) pleasant, obliging.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[accommodus]]

+ * [[commoditās]]

+ * [[commodō]]

+ * [[commodulē]]

+ * [[commodulum]]

+ * [[commodum]]

+ * [[incommodus]]

+ * [[percommodus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[modus]]

+ * [[accommodō]]

+ * [[en|commodious]]

+ * [[en|commode]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The emperor Commodus (180–192 AD) bore it as a cognomen.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}