opulentus Latin · revision 31251

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₃e/op-(i-)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''opulentus''' (feminine opulenta, neuter opulentum, comparative opulentior, superlative opulentissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Sallust, Nepos and Apuleius have a third-declension ''opulēns'', ''opulentis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|ops|t=power, wealth]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ulentus|t=full of]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ⟨ops⟩ from [[itc-pro|*opi-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₃e/op-(i-)|t=ability, force]], and cites Livingston's view that the suffix ⟨-ulentus⟩ is dissimilated from ⟨*-owent-o-⟩.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[hit|happina-|t=rich]] and [[sa|अप्नस्|tr=ápnas-|t=possession, property]].^(de Vaan 2008) Varro already derived it from ⟨ops⟩, and Festus from Ops, the earth that gives all wealth.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has “for a rich man this slavery is hard” in the ''Amphitruo'',^(OLD 2012) and Köbler gives Ennius,^(Köbler 2010) who calls Athens an “opulent town”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of people it is wealthy or opulent, and of places and countries rich in wealth or resources, as in Ennius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is said of a life marked by affluence, as Cicero's “to make men's life richer”, and in Gellius of a speech rich in resources.^(OLD 2012) It is also strong in military resources, powerful, as Sallust's wars waged with small forces against powerful kings.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ With the ablative or genitive it is rich in something, as Plautus' young man rich in gold, and of possessions large and valuable, as Cicero's richest treasures of Syria, or sumptuous, as Plautus' lavish dinner.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it “opulent, rich, wealthy”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a rich man and a sumptuous dinner.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius of opulent Athens.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of powerful kings.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Wealthy, rich, [[m|en|opulent]]; rich in resources.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Strong in resources, [[m|en|powerful]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(with ablative or genitive)'' Rich (in).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Valuable; [[m|en|sumptuous]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[opulentia]]

+ * [[opulentitās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ops]]

+ * [[opēs]]

+ * [[dīves]]

+ * [[locuplēs]]

+ * [[en|opulent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein notes that ''dīvitiae'' and ''gazae'' are riches in general, the means of satisfying any wish, while ''opēs'' are the means of reaching higher ends and of gaining power.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}