sobrius Latin · revision 31616

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la ēbrius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈsoː.bri.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈsɔː.bri.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sōbrius''' (feminine sōbria, neuter sōbrium); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The comparative ''sōbrior'' is attested only in Laberius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably formed with the negating prefix [[sē-|t=apart, without]] on the base of [[ēbrius|t=drunk]], “away from drunkenness”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains its ⟨ō⟩ either from ⟨*swe-obrio-⟩, as Weiss proposed, or from ⟨*se-obrio-⟩, the vowels contracting; both preforms are uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008) He derives ⟨ēbrius⟩ from [[ine-pro|*h₁egʷʰ-|t=to drink]], cognate with [[hit|eku-zi|t=drinks]] and [[grc|νήφω|tr=nḗphō|t=to be sober]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has the advice that if you are sober you should not speak ill of people.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is “not drunk, sober”, which also implies being in control of oneself;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero opposes it to the drunken.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Poets transfer it to things free from drink, as Propertius' sober night that torments lovers.^(OLD 2012) From Terence on it describes a person sober in habits and judgement, staid and sensible, as the thrifty and sober brother who works on the farm.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “sober, temperate, prudent, moderate”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|sober]] (mid-14th century) comes from it through Old French ''sobre''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of a sensible, frugal man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English [[m|en|sober]] through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not [[m|en|drunk]], [[m|en|sober]]; in full possession of one's faculties.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of things, free from drinking.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Sober in habits or judgement, [[m|en|temperate]], sensible, staid.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sōbriefactus]]

+ * [[sōbrietās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ēbrius]]

+ * [[en|sober]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}