submissus Latin · revision 33384

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *m(e)ith2-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''submissus''' (feminine submissa, neuter submissum, comparative submissior); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ It is also spelled ''summissus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective, it is the perfect passive participle [[der|la|submittō|t=to lower, let down]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) That verb is a compound of [[m|la|sub-|t=under]] and [[m|la|mittō|t=to let go, send]],^(Wiktionary) which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*meit-e/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*m(e)ith2-|t=to exchange, remove]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it from Cicero.^(Köbler 2010) In the speech for Flaccus he says he will speak in a low voice, just loud enough for the jurors to hear: ''summissa voce agam tantum ut iudices audiant''.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its literal sense is let down or lowered: the OLD and Georges have it of a lowered head in Ovid, of men in the second rank stooping lower in Livy, of a temple built lower than others, and of hair worn longer at the back to cover the neck in Suetonius.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Of the voice it means low, not loud,^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) and of a speaker or style quiet, plain and restrained: Cicero describes a speech as calm, subdued and gentle, ''placida, summissa, lenis'', and the plain orator as ''summissus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Of persons and their words it means humble and submissive, and in a bad sense servile or grovelling:^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Hirtius has states expected to be more submissive after a recent defeat.^(OLD 2012) In medieval Latin ''submissa persona'' was a person put forward in another's place, a deputy, dummy or accomplice.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of a low voice and a plain style.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Hirtius, of states made submissive by defeat.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of soldiers stooping in a lower position.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius, of hair worn long.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Let down, [[m|en|lowered]]; low in position, stooping; of hair, worn long.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # Of the voice: low, soft, not loud.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Of a speaker or style: quiet, [[m|en|restrained]], plain.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # [[m|en|humble|alt=Humble]], [[m|en|submissive]]; servile, grovelling.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' ''submissa persona'': a deputy, dummy, accomplice.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[submittō]]

+ * [[mittō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate fourth-declension noun ''submissus, -ūs'', a sending in or introduction, is found once in Tertullian.^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}