feliciter Latin · revision 31798

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *dʰeh₁-l-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [feːˈliː.kɪ.tɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [feˈliː.t͡ʃi.ter]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fēlīciter''' (comparative fēlīcius, superlative fēlīcissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[fēlīx|t=lucky, fruitful]] with the adverbial suffix [[m|la|-ter]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces ⟨fēlīx⟩ to [[itc-pro|*fēlwī-|alt=*fēl(w)ī-|t=suckling]], from a stem [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-l-|alt=*dheh1-l-|t=sucking animal]]; the adjective developed from “suckling, with young” to “fruitful” and “fortunate”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|θηλή|tr=thēlḗ|t=nipple]] and [[lv|dêls|t=son]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first example is Plautus' ''Aulularia'', in the wish “may it turn out well and happily for you and your daughter”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means “with good fortune, luckily”, as Cicero's “wisely, if by design; luckily, if by chance”, and in wishes “good luck!”, so that it was also used alone as an exclamation.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It also means “with good results, successfully”, as of a voyage, and in Horace “felicitously”, of a poet's daring.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary also gives “abundantly”, of crops.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “happily, favorably, fruitfully, successfully”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval charters it is a formula of good omen in the dating clause.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus in a wish for good fortune.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of luck and of a successful voyage.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of a poet's happy daring.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|luckily|alt=Luckily]], fortunately, happily;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''(in wishes)'' good luck!^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # With good results, [[m|en|successfully]]; [[m|en|felicitously]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Abundantly.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Under good omens, in the dating of charters.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fēlīcitās]]

+ * [[fēlīcitō]]

+ * [[fēlīx]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}