ineptus Latin · revision 31398

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₁p-i-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ineptus''' (feminine inepta, neuter ineptum, comparative ineptior); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the negative prefix [[m|la|in-|t=not, un-]] and [[m|la|aptus|t=fitted, suitable]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains ⟨aptus⟩ as the participle of [[m|la|apīscor|t=to get, seize]] and its active ⟨apiō⟩ “to tie”, from [[itc-pro|*ap-(e)i-]] and [[ine-pro|*h₁p-i-|t=to get, grab]], cognate with [[hit|epp-|t=to take, grab]].^(de Vaan 2008) The TLL compares Sanskrit [[m|sa|अनाप्त|tr=anāpta|t=unfit]].^(TLL)

+

+ Cicero already explained the word: the inept man is so called because he is not apt.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Isidore of Seville says it is the opposite of ⟨aptus⟩, as if ⟨inaptus⟩.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) who has “why do I stand here like a fool, afraid to interrupt, and not get on with what I came for?” in the ''Trinummus''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of people it is lacking any sense of what is fitting, foolish or silly, as in Plautus, and of words and acts tasteless or absurd, as Plautus' “his love is silly and hateful”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Cicero defines the inept man as one who does not see what the occasion requires, talks too much or shows off, and Lewis and Short give the senses unsuitable, impertinent, improper, pedantic and tactless.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Catullus uses it in the literal sense “not well joined”, of the loose legs of the little bridge at Colonia.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “stupid, inept, silly, unsuited, awkward”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''inept'' (about 1600) comes from it, through French or directly.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a foolish man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero explains the word.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of a loosely built bridge.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1600 – English [[m|en|inept]] comes from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lacking in judgement or tact, foolish, [[m|en|silly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # (of words, actions) Tasteless, [[m|en|absurd]], [[m|en|impertinent]]; pedantic.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Unsuitable, [[m|en|inept]], awkward.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Not well joined, loose.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ineptia]]

+ * [[ineptiō]]

+ * [[ineptitūdō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aptus]]

+ * [[apīscor]]

+ * [[en|inept]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}