emollio Latin · revision 34229

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=59 BC–17 AD, Livy|origins=la mollis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [eːˈmɔl.li.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [eˈmɔl.li.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ēmolliō''' (present infinitive ēmollīre, perfect active ēmollīvī or ēmolliī, supine ēmollītum); fourth conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ex-|mollis|t2=soft]] with the verbal suffix ⟨-iō⟩, or the compound of [[m|la|molliō|t=to soften]] with the prefix.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) De Vaan traces [[m|la|mollis]] to [[itc-pro|*moldu-]] and [[ine-pro|*ml̥d-u-|t=soft]]: the u-stem adjective was remade as an i-stem in Latin.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lewis and Short suggest it is not found before Augustus;^(Lewis & Short 1879) the TLL's earliest authors are Ovid and Livy.^(TLL) Livy writes that the moisture ''iaculorum amenta emollierat'', “had softened the straps of the javelins”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its literal sense is to make soft: Columella has figs softened by the sun, and Celsus and Pliny the Elder use it in medicine of relaxing the bowels and soothing inflammation.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Figuratively it means to take away harshness: Pliny has a chalk that softens colours, and Ovid the line that learning the liberal arts ''emollit mores'', “softens one's character”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) In a bad sense it means to weaken or enervate: Livy writes of the fear that a city's excessive pleasantness would soften an army, and Tacitus peoples not yet softened by a long peace.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of moisture softening javelin straps and of an army softened by a city's pleasures.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid writes that the liberal arts soften one's character.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of relaxing the bowels and softening colours.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus writes of peoples not yet weakened by a long peace.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make [[m|en|soft]], [[m|en|soften]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(medicine)'' To relax the bowels; to [[m|en|soothe]] an inflammation.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # To take away the harshness of, [[m|en|mellow]], refine; to make gentle, [[m|en|mollify]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To take away the vigour of, weaken, [[m|en|enervate]], make effeminate.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mollis]]

+ * [[molliō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}