blanditia Latin · revision 31319

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''blanditia''' ''f'' (genitive blanditiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A fifth-declension form ''blanditiēs'' also occurs.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|blandus|t=flattering, charming]] with [[m|la|-itia]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan calls the adjective of uncertain origin: the link with [[m|la|mollis|t=soft]] is phonetically impossible, while a link with [[grc|μαλακός|tr=malakós|t=soft]] and [[sga|mláith|t=soft]] led Schrijver to a preform ⟨*mlh₂-d-no-⟩;^(de Vaan 2008) Ernout and Meillet, as he reports, suggest “with a flattering voice” and a link with [[m|la|balbus|t=stammering]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has “your flattery is pure birdlime” in the ''Bacchides'';^(OLD 2012) Köbler also gives Plautus.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Mostly in the plural, it is ingratiating behaviour or speech, flattery and caresses, as in Plautus, and of animals, as Ovid's cooing doves;^(OLD 2012) Ovid also makes the Blandishments the companions of Cupid.^(OLD 2012) Of things it is charm or allurement, as Cicero's men corrupted by the charms of pleasure.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Lewis and Short note it is mostly in a good sense, unlike ''assentātiō'' and ''adūlātiō''.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it “flattery”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of flattery as birdlime.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the charms of pleasure.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of doves and of Cupid's companions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius has the form ''blanditiēs''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often plural)'' [[m|en|flattery|alt=Flattery]], [[m|en|blandishment]], caresses.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|charm|alt=Charm]], allurement.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[blandus]]

+ * [[blandities]]

+ * [[blandior]]

+ * [[adūlātiō]]

+ * [[assentātiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}