acerbe Latin · revision 31940

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *h₂eḱ-ro-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [aˈkɛr.beː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [aˈt͡ʃɛr.be]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''acerbē''' (comparative acerbius, superlative acerbissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|acerbus|-ē|t1=harsh, bitter]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives [[m|la|acerbus]] from an adjective [[itc-pro|*akro-|t=sharp]], the base also of [[m|la|ācer|t=sharp]], which he traces to [[ine-pro|*h₂eḱ-ro-|t=sharp]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|akrid|t=sharply]], [[grc|ἄκρος|tr=ákros|t=highest, outermost]] and [[lt|aštrùs|t=sharp]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it of a voice ringing out most harshly.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its senses follow the adjective: with a harsh sound, then cruelly or bitterly, as Cicero's attacking dear friends too harshly.^(OLD 2012) With verbs of feeling it means with pain or annoyance, and ''acerbe ferre'' is to take something hard, a phrase Cicero uses often.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) It also means severely or strictly, as Livy's watches kept more strictly, and with verbs of dying, prematurely.^(OLD 2012) Seneca contrasts ''acerbe et aspere'' with ''molliter''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a harsh voice, of bitter attacks and of an untimely death.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of watches kept strictly.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # With a harsh sound, [[m|en|stridently]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|cruelly|alt=Cruelly]], harshly, [[m|en|bitterly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # With pain or annoyance;^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) ''acerbe ferre'', to take something hard.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+ # [[m|en|severely|alt=Severely]], strictly.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of dying, before one's time.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[acerbus]]

+ * [[acer|alt=ācer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}