minaciter Latin · revision 36022

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mināciter''' (comparative minācius, superlative minācissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mināx|-ter|t1=threatening]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) The adjective is from [[m|la|minae|t=threats]],^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*men-ā-]], first “a part that sticks out” and then “a threat”, from the root of [[m|la|ēmineō|t=to stick out]], [[ine-pro|*m(e)n-eh₁-]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Stichus'' has ''potius leniter quam minaciter'', “gently rather than threateningly”.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means “in a threatening manner, with threats”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Cicero uses it of frightening opponents, and in the ''Philippics'' asks whether a man spoke more threateningly than he would have acted.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010) Livy has someone glaring round with fierce eyes, ''truces minaciter oculos'', and Pliny the Younger, Suetonius and Quintilian also use it.^(Conte 2010)^(Georges 1913) Ecclesiastical Latin kept it as “by threats, threateningly”.^(Stelten 1995) In British medieval Latin, William of Malmesbury writes of ruling subjects mildly and roaring threateningly at enemies.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus contrasts ''leniter'' and ''minaciter''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses the comparative ''minacius''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy writes of eyes rolled threateningly.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of demanding something with threats.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 793 – Alcuin uses it in a letter.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In a [[m|en|threaten|alt=threatening]] manner, [[m|en|menacingly]], with threats.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minae]]

+ * [[mināx]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}