mollitia Latin · revision 32793

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [mɔlˈlɪ.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [molˈlit.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mollitia''' ''f'' (genitive mollitiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ There is also a fifth-declension form ''mollitiēs'', genitive ''mollitiēī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Manuscripts sometimes spell it with ''-lic-''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mollis|-itia|t1=soft]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|mollis]] through ⟨*molwi-⟩ and ⟨*moldu̯i-⟩ to [[itc-pro|*moldu-(i-)]] and [[ine-pro|*ml̥d-u-|t=soft]], an old u-stem adjective remade as an i-stem in Latin.^(de Vaan 2008) He compares [[cy|blydd|t=soft]] and [[sa|मृदु|tr=mr̥du-|t=delicate, soft]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who in the ''Vidularia'' speaks of a body made white by city softness and shade.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is softness or tenderness, the bodily softness thought typical of women and the young, and gentleness of expression.^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it of the tender state of creatures just born and of the suppleness of the neck, and Tacitus of a mild climate.^(OLD 2012) It is also physical weakness, as of Cicero's friend Nicias, and leniency or mildness of mind.^(OLD 2012) Most often, usually with ⟨animī⟩, it is weakness of character, effeminacy or cowardice;^(OLD 2012) Gellius uses it of licentiousness in songs, and it can mean luxury.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that both forms are classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of the softness of city life.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of tenderness, suppleness and weakness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of mild decrees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of a mild climate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius of licentiousness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|softness|alt=Softness]], tenderness; gentleness of expression.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Mildness of [[m|en|climate]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Suppleness, [[m|en|flexibility]], pliancy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Physical softness, feebleness.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Leniency, mildness; sensitivity;^(OLD 2012) ''mollitia frontis'', shyness.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Weakness of mind or character, [[m|en|effeminacy]], cowardice.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Licentiousness, sexual immorality.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|luxury|alt=Luxury]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[molle]]

+ * [[mollēscō]]

+ * [[mollicellus]]

+ * [[mollicīna]]

+ * [[mollicomus]]

+ * [[molliculus]]

+ * [[mollificō]]

+ * [[mollificus]]

+ * [[mollīmentum]]

+ * [[molliō]]

+ * [[mollis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}