eleganter Latin · revision 33512

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=ine-pro *leǵ-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ēleganter''' (comparative ēlegantius, superlative ēlegantissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ēlegāns|-ter|t1=fastidious, refined]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains [[m|la|ēlegāns]] as the participle of a verb ⟨*ex-legāre⟩, beside [[m|la|legō#2|t=to gather, read]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*leg-e-]] and [[ine-pro|*leǵ-|t=to collect]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Varro,^(Köbler 2010) who says of a villa that it is finished elegantly with stucco work.^(OLD 2012) Cicero speaks of a youth spent decorously, ''adulēscentiam trāductam ēleganter''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means acting with correct taste or conduct, and then with correctness of usage.^(OLD 2012) It is used of things pleasing to the eye, and above all of speech: Cicero calls someone a most elegant speaker of Latin, ''Latīnē loquī ēlegantissimē''.^(OLD 2012) Other arts and activities follow: Sallust says a woman danced more elegantly than a respectable woman need.^(OLD 2012) The jurists use it to introduce a fine legal distinction, “with nice discrimination”.^(OLD 2012) It has the comparative ''ēlegantius'' and the superlative ''ēlegantissimē''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro, of a villa finished with stucco.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of conduct and of elegant speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # With correct taste or conduct, [[m|en|decorous|alt=decorously]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Correctly, properly (of usage).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Attractively, [[m|en|elegant|alt=elegantly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # With skilful choice of words, [[m|en|neat|alt=neatly]], happily; skilfully (in other arts).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(law)'' With nice discrimination.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ēlegāns]]

+ * [[ēlegantia]]

+ * [[legō#2]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}