mitesco Latin · revision 33972

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=220–130 BC, Pacuvius|origins=itc-pro *mīti-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [miːˈteːs.koː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [miˈtɛs.ko]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mītēscō''' (present infinitive mītēscere); third conjugation, no passive, no perfect or supine stems^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mītis|-ēscō|t1=mild, mellow]], an inchoative verb.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|mītis]] to [[itc-pro|*mīti-]] and [[ine-pro|*m(e)h₁i-ti-|t=soft]], with cognates such as [[ga|mín|t=soft]] and [[lt|miélas|t=nice, sweet, dear]]; he suggests it may come from a derivative of [[ine-pro|*meh₁-|t=to measure]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and the OLD find it first in Pacuvius, who speaks of the fruit of the crops being unable to grow or ripen.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first used of fruit growing soft and ripe: Cicero writes that grapes ripen in the sun.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ovid uses it of plants that become soft in the flame.^(OLD 2012) From there it means to grow mild: Horace has cold weather softened by the west winds, and Pliny the Elder the gentler slopes of the Alps.^(OLD 2012) Of feelings and conditions it means to abate, as fear that subsides in a resolute mind in Pacuvius,^(OLD 2012) and of people and animals to become milder or tamer, as in Accius, where no heart is so wild that misfortune does not soften it.^(OLD 2012) Stelten gives "become mild, subside" for Church Latin.^(Stelten 1995) The form ''mītīscō'' also occurs.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius of crops ripening and of fear abating.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius of a heart softened by misfortune.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of grapes ripening in the sun.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of cold softened by the west winds.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of the gentle slopes of the Alps.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(of fruit)'' To become soft and [[m|en|mellow]], [[m|en|ripen]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''(of other things)'' to become less tough or harsh.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of weather, the sea)'' To grow mild, calm down;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995) ''(of slopes)'' to become gentle;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995) ''(of feelings)'' to [[m|en|abate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To become milder in disposition, soften;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''(of animals)'' to grow tame.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ēmītescō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mītis]]

+ * [[mītigō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}