reconditus Latin · revision 36606

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la condō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''reconditus''' (feminine recondita, neuter reconditum, comparative reconditior); first and second declension^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective, it is the past participle [[der|la|recondō|t=to put away, store away]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)^(Conte 2010) That verb is a compound of [[m|la|re-]] and [[m|la|condō|t=to put away, store]].^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Cicero and Catullus on:^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) in his speech for Quinctius, Cicero describes a man of a gloomy and withdrawn nature, ''nātūrā tristī ac reconditā'', who was never seen at the sundial, on the Campus or at dinner parties.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of things it meant hidden away, concealed or secret: Cicero speaks of what had to be concealed being kept stored away and hidden, and of hidden veins of gold and silver.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Of places it meant secluded: Catullus speaks of a mistress of secluded glades, ''saltuum reconditōrum'',^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) and Caesar uses the neuter plural, ''occulta ac recondita templī'', of the innermost parts of a temple.^(Georges 1913)^(OLD 2012) The phrase ''in reconditō'' meant in concealment.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ Figuratively it meant abstruse or recherché: Cicero speaks of the abstruse art of the mathematicians and of recondite learning,^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) and Suetonius of the far-fetched words, ''recondita verba'', that Augustus avoided.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) It could also mean obscure or unintelligible, as of a mysterious rumbling heard in the land near the city.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ English borrowed it in the 1640s as [[m|en|recondite]], perhaps through French, first meaning “removed or hidden from view”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a withdrawn character, of hidden things and of abstruse learning.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of secluded glades.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses the neuter plural of the innermost parts of a temple.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of far-fetched words.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1640s – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|recondite|alt=recondite]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|hidden|alt=Hidden]] away, [[m|en|concealed]], secret.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(of places)'' [[m|en|secluded|alt=Secluded]], remote;^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) ''in reconditō'', in concealment.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # [[m|en|abstruse|alt=Abstruse]], [[m|en|recondite]], recherché.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # [[m|en|obscure|alt=Obscure]], unintelligible.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(of character)'' [[m|en|withdrawn|alt=Withdrawn]], retiring.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}