comis Latin · revision 32258

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Duenos inscription|origins=ine-pro *smi-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈkoː.mɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈkɔː.mis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cōmis''' (neuter cōme, comparative cōmior, superlative cōmissimus, adverb cōmiter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The Duenos inscription has the archaic spelling ''cosmis''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is perhaps [[inh|itc-pro|*kom-smi-]], from a root [[ine-pro|*smi-|t=to smile]], so that it would first have meant smiling along with someone.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Eichner derives the archaic form ⟨cosmis⟩ from a verb [[m|ine-pro|*ko-smei-|t=to contract the face to a smile]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|स्मयते|tr=smáyate|t=smiles]], [[grc|φιλομμειδής|tr=philommeidḗs|t=who likes to laugh]] and [[lv|smiêt|t=to laugh]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Varro derived the adverb [[m|la|cōmiter]] from [[grc|κῶμος|tr=kômos|t=revel]], the source of [[m|la|cōmissātiō]].^(Varro)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its oldest form is in the Duenos inscription,^(de Vaan 2008) and Köbler dates its first use in an inscription to the 4th century BC.^(Köbler 2010) In literature de Vaan finds it first in Naevius;^(de Vaan 2008) the OLD's first example is Plautus' ''Trinummus'', of a lover who becomes poor while he is kind to others.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It describes people who are kind, obliging and affable, as Cicero's definition of the friendly, generous, easy and pleasant, and Horace's good neighbour kind to his wife;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) it is also used of qualities and actions, such as Livy's friendly hospitality.^(OLD 2012) A second sense is having good taste, elegant or cultured, as Cicero's verse on Terence's refined speech and Horace's “youth is graceless without you” addressed to Venus.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that manuscripts often confuse it with [[communis|alt=commūnis]].^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its noun is [[comitas|alt=cōmitās]], already in Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 4th century BC – An inscription has it, as ⟨cosmis⟩.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of affable people and of refined speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of a good neighbour and of graceless youth.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of persons and their character, [[m|en|kind]], obliging, [[m|en|affable]], gracious; of actions and qualities, friendly.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Having good taste, [[m|en|elegant]], cultured.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cōmitās]]

+ * [[incomis]]

+ * [[percōmis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}