munificus Latin · revision 34182

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la mūnus, la faciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [muːˈnɪ.fɪ.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [muˈniː.fi.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mūnificus''' (feminine mūnifica, neuter mūnificum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The comparative and superlative are ''mūnificentior'', ''mūnificentissimus'', according to Festus as epitomised by Paul the Deacon, but Cato has the comparative ''mūnificior''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The OLD analyses it as [[af|la|mūnia|-ficus|t1=duties]],^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short and Wiktionary as made from [[m|la|mūnus|t=duty, gift]] and [[m|la|faciō|t=to do, make]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|mūnus]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*moinos-|t=duty, obligation, task]], probably from a noun [[ine-pro|*h2moi-no-|t=exchange]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognates include [[osc|múíníkú|t=common]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler record it first in Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who uses it in the sense dutiful: the speaker counts as her dowry fear of the gods, love of her parents, being obliging ''atque ut munifica sim bonis'', “and dutiful to the good”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was performing one's obligations, dutiful.^(OLD 2012) From Lucilius on it meant generous, bountiful, [[m|en|munificent]]: Cicero praises a man as most liberal and most munificent and says one should be munificent in giving.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ovid and Pliny the Elder apply it to things bestowed, unstinted.^(OLD 2012) In legal texts and inscriptions it also meant subject to tax or duty, and of persons paying contributions; of soldiers, in a doubtful reading, doing duty.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts it with [[lārgus]], which can describe any rich giver;^(Döderlein 1874) ''munificus'', like [[benignus]] and [[līberālis]], marks a virtue in the giver, here a princely feeling or laudable ambition.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in the sense dutiful.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it in the sense generous.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero calls a man ''liberalissimus munificentissimusque''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of gifts.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Performing one's obligations, [[m|en|dutiful]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|generous|alt=Generous]], [[m|en|bountiful]], [[m|en|munificent]], [[m|en|liberal]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # (of things bestowed) Unstinted.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Subject to tax or duty; paying contributions;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) (of soldiers) doing duty.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mūnus]]

+ * [[mūnificentia]]

+ * [[mūnia]]

+ * [[mūnifex]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}