amoenitas Latin · revision 32456

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [aˈmoe̯.nɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [aˈmɛː.ni.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''amoenitās''' ''f'' (genitive amoenitātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|amoenus|-tās|t1=pleasant, delightful]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan leaves [[m|la|amoenus]] unexplained: he reports Meiser's reconstruction *ama-wen-o-, but doubts that it would give the Latin form, and suggests a loanword as a possibility.^(de Vaan 2008) Etymonline mentions a possible link with [[m|la|amō|t=to love]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL records it from Plautus on.^(TLL) In the ''Captivi'' a character piles up the word with its adjective: a delightful day has loaded him with delightful delight.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is above all the pleasantness of a place: Cicero writes that his house offers him the charm of its gardens.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Plautus also uses it of a person's charm and as a term of endearment, and Gellius of the charm of a style.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that it is rare in the poets except Plautus and absent from Terence, Lucretius and Horace.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It can be a pleasant spot itself, and in a bad sense comfort that softens people: Livy fears that the comforts of the city would weaken an army.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it pleasantness.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a delightful day and of a person's charm.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the charm of gardens.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of the softening comforts of a city.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius of the charm of a speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|amenity]] is borrowed from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|pleasantness|alt=Pleasantness]], delightfulness, [[m|en|amenity]], especially of a place.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a person, attractiveness, charm; also as a term of endearment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of style, charm, attraction.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A pleasant spot.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Comfort that makes people soft, [[m|en|luxury]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amoenus]]

+ * [[en|amenity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}