macte Latin · revision 34577

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=itc-pro *makto-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmak.tɛ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmak.te]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''macte''' (indeclinable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a frozen vocative, [[der|la|mactus|t=honoured, blessed]], treated as indeclinable.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) De Vaan traces the adjective to [[itc-pro|*makto-|t=honoured, blessed]].^(de Vaan 2008) For its further origin he finds slightly more attractive Driessen's suggestion of a root [[ine-pro|*mh₂ḱ-|t=to make long]], also seen in [[m|la|macer|t=thin]], so that “honoured” would first have meant “made bigger”; a link with [[m|la|magnus|t=big]] is less likely, since by Lachmann's law one would expect a long vowel in the adjective.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Risch explained the formula ⟨macte estō⟩ as a blend of ⟨mactus estō⟩ with another formula, and the verb [[m|la|mactō]] as “to pronounce the macte formula”.^(de Vaan 2008) Szemerényi took the word for the ablative of an i-stem noun meaning “power”, a view de Vaan calls far-fetched.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato, in his work on agriculture, has it in prayers: ''Iuppiter dapalis, macte istace dape pollucenda esto'', “Jupiter of the feast, be honoured by this offering of food”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early drama it is said to people in the formula ''macte virtute (esto)'', “be blessed for your courage”, “well done”, in Pacuvius, Accius and Turpilius.^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it ironically in a letter (''macte virtute!'' to a friend who has leisure to read the ''Orator''), Horace quotes a saying of Cato with it, and Livy and Virgil keep the formula: ''macte nova virtute, puer, sic itur ad astra''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ From Pliny the Elder and Statius on it is also used with other ablatives, with a genitive or rarely an accusative, meaning “hurrah for”, and on its own as “bravo”.^(OLD 2012) With a plural subject the verb is plural (''macte … estote''),^(OLD 2012) and Lewis and Short also give a plural ''macti''.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ecclesiastical Latin keeps the sense “bravo, well done”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it in prayers to gods.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius has ''macte esto virtute''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in his letters, once ironically and once on its own as “bravo”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil has ''macte nova virtute, puer''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it with other ablatives.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (addressed to gods, ''macte esto'' with the ablative) Be [[m|en|honour|alt=honoured]] (with).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # (addressed to people, ''macte virtute (esto)'') Be [[m|en|bless|alt=blessed]] for your courage; well done.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # (with the ablative, genitive or accusative) Blessings on, hurrah for.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (on its own) [[m|en|bravo|alt=Bravo]], well done.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mactus]]

+ * [[mactō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}