luculentus Latin · revision 35678

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *leuk-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɫuː.kʊˈɫɛn.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [lu.kuˈlɛn.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lūculentus''' (feminine lūculenta, neuter lūculentum, superlative lūculentissimus, adverb lūculenter); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|lūx|-ulentus|t1=light|t2=full of]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) formed like [[opulentus]] from [[ops]], as the TLL notes.^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|lūx]] to [[itc-pro|*louk-|t=light]] and [[ine-pro|*leuk-|t=light]].^(de Vaan 2008) The epitome of Festus already explained it as named from light.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who has it of a bright, splendid vestibule in the ''Mostellaria'' and of a fine-looking woman in the ''Miles gloriosus'' (''luculenta ac festiva femina'').^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The literal sense “full of light, bright” is rare: Cicero writes of a stove with a good fire in it (''camino luculento'').^(Lewis & Short 1879) The usual sense is “excellent of its kind, splendid, fine”:^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) of riches and an inheritance in Plautus, of a fortune in Cicero,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) of a legion, a style of speech, a writer or a witness worthy of trust.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero also uses it ironically of a serious wound, “a fine wound, as the scar shows”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein notes that it means what may be seen and need not shun the light, so that it never gives emphatic praise, unlike [[illūstris]].^(Döderlein 1874) The comparative is found from Cicero on.^(TLL) The adverbs are [[lūculentē]] and [[lūculenter]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it means bright, splendid and excellent.^(Stelten 1995) British medieval writers used it of fine appearance, of a keen mind, of eminent people, and of eloquent writing.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a vestibule, of riches and of a woman.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a fire, and ironically of a wound.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of possessions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of a good-looking Attis.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Full of light, [[m|en|bright]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|excellent|alt=Excellent]], [[m|en|splendid]], fine.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Considerable, rich (of wealth and possessions).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(ironic)'' Fine, serious (of something bad).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Fine-looking, [[m|en|beautiful]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Trustworthy (of a witness or writer).^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[luculentaster]]

+ * [[luculentia]]

+ * [[lūculentitās]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}