politus Latin · revision 34559

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=la poliō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''polītus''' (feminine polīta, neuter polītum, comparative polītior, superlative polītissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[der|la|poliō|t=to polish, smooth]]: its perfect passive participle, used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) De Vaan finds the origin of that verb unclear.^(de Vaan 2008) An old explanation, revived by Seldeslachts, makes it a back-formation from ⟨polīvī⟩, the perfect of [[m|la|polinō|t=to besmear]]; de Vaan finds the shift of meaning conceivable but asks why the language would then have given up ⟨polinō⟩.^(de Vaan 2008) Vendryes took it for a term of the fullers' trade.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first quotation in the OLD is from Varro's Menippean satires: ''hīc in cēnāculō polītō recipiuntur'', “here they are received in an elegant upper room”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates it from Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of things it means polished, refined or elegant in appearance: Varro has royally finished buildings, Phaedrus an elegant house, and Pliny the Younger a most elegant bedroom.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Cicero uses it above all of people refined by learning and manners: no city produced men more polished in culture, while the people of Caria, Phrygia and Mysia were the least polished and elegant, and a man made for persuasion could come ''polītus ex scholā'', polished from the school.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ Cicero also applies it to writing, wit and judgement: most polished jests, a subtle and polished style, a nicely polished judgement.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Younger praises a letter as polished.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) In Ecclesiastical Latin it is the participle of [[poliō|alt=polīre]], with the adverb [[polītē]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of an elegant room.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of cultivated people and polished wit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 15 BC–c. 50 AD – Phaedrus uses it of an elegant house.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|polished|alt=Polished]]; refined or [[m|en|elegant]] in appearance.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # Of people, [[m|en|refined]], cultivated, polished.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # Of writing, speech and wit, polished, elegant.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[poliō]]

+ * [[expoliō]]

+ * [[polītiō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Medieval British verse also has a noun ''politus'', the polish or smoothness of a surface.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}