facete Latin · revision 33605

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''facētē''' (comparative facētius, superlative facētissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+ Comparative ''facētius'', superlative ''facētissimē''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|facētus|-ē|t1=clever, witty]].^(OLD 2012) The origin of [[m|la|facētus]] is doubtful: the ancients took it from [[m|la|faciō|t=to make]], and the OLD suggests a link with [[m|la|fax|t=torch]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Naevius.^(Köbler 2010) In Plautus' ''Captivi'' a character applauds a remark as aptly put: ''facete dictum!''^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense is aptly or cleverly,^(OLD 2012) as in Plautus; in Cicero it is wittily or amusingly, as in his discussion of jokes in ''On the Orator'': ''illud facete dictum''.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary also gives the sense nicely or elegantly.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of something aptly said.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of a witty remark.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Aptly, [[m|en|cleverly]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|wittily|alt=Wittily]], amusingly.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Nicely, [[m|en|elegantly]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[perfacētē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[facētus]]

+ * [[facētia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}