venustus Latin · revision 33780

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *uenh₁-os}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [wɛˈnʊs.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [veˈnus.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''venustus''' (feminine venusta, neuter venustum, comparative venustior, superlative venustissimus, adverb venustē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|venus|-tus|t1=charm, loveliness]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|venus]] to [[itc-pro|*wenos-]] and [[ine-pro|*uenh₁-os|t=desire]], the root of [[m|la|vēnor|t=to hunt]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has it first,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) in the address ''o Venus venusta'' in the ''Mostellaria''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It describes people and things attractive in appearance or manner, “charming”: Terence has a charming face,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Cicero writes to Atticus that nothing is more charming than his ''pegmata''.^(OLD 2012) Of speech and writing it means graceful and neat, as Cicero calls certain commentaries bare, straight and charming, stripped of all ornament.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein sets it beside ''formōsus'' and ''pulcher'': ''venustus'' is beauty that charms and arouses desire.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, “o charming Venus”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence, of a charming face.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of charming things and of graceful writing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|attractive|alt=Attractive]], [[m|en|charming]], lovely, of persons and things.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of speech or writing, [[m|en|graceful]], neat, elegant.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[invenustus]]

+ * [[venustē]]

+ * [[venustō]]

+ * [[venustulus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Venus]]

+ * [[venustās]]

+ * [[veneror]]

+ * [[vēnor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes three words for beauty: ''formōsus'' is beauty of form that gives pleasure, ''pulcher'' beauty that is admired for its perfection, and ''venustus'' beauty that charms and captivates.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}