licenter Latin · revision 33964

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=itc-pro *lik-ē-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''licenter''' (comparative licentius)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|licēns|-ter|t1=free, unrestrained]].^(OLD 2012) [[m|la|licēns]] is the present participle of [[m|la|licet|t=it is permitted]],^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*lik-ē-|t=to be available, have the value of]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who exclaims in ''De natura deorum'' at how freely an opponent argues.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means without restraint, freely, boldly, and in a bad sense impudently or licentiously.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Cicero wants the plain style to seem to move freely, not to wander at will, and the comparative ''licentius'' describes slaves living too familiarly with their mistress in the speech for Caelius.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Sallust uses it of soldiers becoming more lax once fear is removed, and Quintilian of the Greeks taking many liberties.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also means extravagantly or fancifully: Columella says no poet speaks more extravagantly, and Gellius of words said not fancifully, in the manner of poets, but on a firm principle.^(OLD 2012) Niermeyer records a medieval sense "with permission, lawfully".^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of arguing freely and of slaves' familiarity.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of soldiers growing lax.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella of a poet's extravagance.^(OLD 2012)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of the Greeks' liberties.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Without restraint, freely, boldly;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''(in a bad sense)'' impudently, [[m|en|licentiously]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In an exaggerated manner, fancifully, [[m|en|extravagantly]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' With permission, [[m|en|lawfully]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praelicenter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[licens]]

+ * [[licentia]]

+ * [[licet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}