mollio Latin · revision 31330

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=220–130 BC, Pacuvius|origins=ine-pro *mld-u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmɔl.li.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɔl.li.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''molliō''' (present infinitive mollīre, perfect active mollīvī or molliī, supine mollītum); fourth conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ Accius and Ovid have an imperfect ''mollībat''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Terence has a passive infinitive ''mollīrier''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|mollis|t=soft]] with the verb suffix [[m|la|-iō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ⟨mollis⟩ from [[itc-pro|*moldu-]] and [[ine-pro|*mld-u-|t=soft]], a stem in ⟨-u-⟩ remade as one in ⟨-i-⟩ in Latin.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[cy|blydd|t=soft]] and [[sa|मृदु|tr=mṛdú|t=soft, delicate]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Pacuvius has “the winds fall silent, the sea is calmed”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to make soft or yielding, as Cicero's earth that takes in the seed in its softened lap, and in medicine to relax the body, as Livy's oil passed round to make the soldiers' limbs supple.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is to weaken the body or make it effeminate, as in Ovid, and to calm the sea or weather.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) It is to make less hostile or appease, as Terence's man who cannot be softened by pity or prayers, to tame, as Cicero's Fabius who wore down Hannibal by his patience, and to weaken someone's resolve.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is to lessen or mitigate, as Caesar's winding road made to ease the slope, and to make something easier to bear, as Cicero's harsh metaphor softened by a word put before it.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “soften, make smooth”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of the calmed sea.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of softening by prayers.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of softened earth and of Hannibal tamed.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of easing a slope.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|soften|alt=soften]], make pliant;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''(medicine)'' to relax.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To weaken, make [[m|en|effeminate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To calm (the sea, weather).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|appease]], [[m|en|mollify]]; to tame.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To weaken (resolve).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To mitigate, lessen; to make easier to bear.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ēmolliō]]

+ * [[mollīmentum]]

+ * [[mollītōrius]]

+ * [[praemolliō]]

+ * [[remolliō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mollēscō]]

+ * [[molliculus]]

+ * [[mollificō]]

+ * [[mollis]]

+ * [[mollitia]]

+ * [[lēniō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}