indulgens Latin · revision 33501

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=2nd century BC, Turpilius}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''indulgēns''' (genitive indulgentis, comparative indulgentior, superlative indulgentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective, it is the present participle [[der|la|indulgeō|t=to be indulgent, grant]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The origin of [[m|la|indulgeō]] is unclear: de Vaan thinks it is probably a compound whose first part is ⟨in-⟩ “in”, ⟨in-⟩ “not” or ⟨endo⟩ “in”.^(de Vaan 2008) LIV connects the root [[ine-pro|*delǵh-|t=to be hard, become fixed]], and de Vaan considers either a causative “let someone become hard” that shifted to “let someone have his way”, or a verb made from a negated adjective “not hard”, though he finds the initial ⟨in-⟩ hard to explain.^(de Vaan 2008) Earlier comparisons with [[m|la|longus|t=long]] and [[m|la|langueō|t=to be faint]] he finds less likely on formal grounds.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Turpilius, in the 2nd century BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it means mild and lenient, the opposite of strict:^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Cicero writes of a father who is too indulgent and loosens whatever the writer has tightened.^(OLD 2012) In a more positive sense it is kind and gracious, as Seneca's ''avunculus indulgentissimus'', “a most kind uncle”;^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) in Pliny's letters ''indulgentissime Imperator'' addresses the emperor.^(Georges 1913) Livy has ''irarum indulgentes ministri'', ready servants of their anger.^(Georges 1913) With a dative it means given to or fond of a pursuit, as Suetonius' ''aleae indulgens'', “given to dice”.^(OLD 2012) Georges also notes a passive use, “tenderly loved”, in the declamations ascribed to Quintilian.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 2nd century BC – Turpilius.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of a too lenient father.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca, of a kind uncle.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius, “given to” dice.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not strict, mild, [[m|en|indulgent]], [[m|en|lenient]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # Kind, gracious, bestowing favours.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(with dative)'' Given to, fond of (a pursuit).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(passive, rare)'' Tenderly loved.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[indulgeō]]

+ * [[indulgentia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}