adulor Latin · revision 32502

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [aˈduː.ɫɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [aˈduː.lor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''adūlor''' (present infinitive adūlārī, perfect active adūlātus sum); first conjugation, deponent^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) It has the form of a denominal verb, from [[m|la|ad-]] and a noun [[m|la|*ūlos|t=tail]] that the OLD and Wiktionary compare with [[sa|वाल|tr=vālá-|t=tail-hair]]; de Vaan notes that [[lt|valaĩ|t=horse's tail]] and the Sanskrit word point to a root that would not give a Latin long ⟨ū⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) He has proposed instead a link with [[m|la|aveō|t=to be eager]]: an adjective *ad-awiþo- "eager towards" would have become *ad-audo- and then, by dissimilation, *adūlo- "flatterer".^(de Vaan 2008) Festus thought it a form of [[m|la|allūdō|t=to play with]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cicero, who tells an opponent that he wanted to see him fawning on everyone.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its basic image is the fawning of animals: Seneca bids us look at wild beasts fawning on their master, and Ovid has a troop of fawning beasts.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Valerius Maximus uses it of bowing low in the Persian manner.^(OLD 2012) Most often it is to flatter or court someone in a servile way, with an accusative or, more rarely, a dative.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lewis & Short contrast it with [[assentor]], to agree with everything someone says, and [[blandior]], to flatter with soft words and winning manners.^(Lewis & Short 1879) A declamation ascribed to Quintilian uses it of a face that pleases the eyes.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a man fawning on everyone.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of fawning beasts.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca the Younger of beasts fawning on their master.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1777 – English [[m|en|adulate]] is back-formed from adulation.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # Of dogs and other animals, to [[m|en|fawn]] upon.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make [[m|en|obeisance]] to.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|flatter]] or court servilely, fawn upon, adulate.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To please, gratify the sight.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[adūlābilis]]

+ * [[adūlāns]]

+ * [[adūlātiō]]

+ * [[adūlātor]]

+ * [[adūlātrīx]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|adulate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}