perbonus Latin · revision 36640

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈpɛr.bɔ.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈpɛr.bo.nus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''perbonus''' (feminine perbona, neuter perbonum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|per-|bonus|t2=good]], with the intensifying prefix.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Old Latin had the adjective as ⟨duenos⟩, which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*dweno-]], perhaps from [[ine-pro|*duh₂-eno-]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on.^(Köbler 2010)^(TLL) In the ''Mercator'' an old man is jokingly offered as a sheep, said to be very good and easily shorn; in the ''Mostellaria'' a house was bought not in a very good spot but in the best.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Plautus also uses it of a lunch and of shade in summer, and Cicero of fine embossed silver and of farmland that is very good by nature.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero uses it of a situation too: ''perbonō locō rēs erat'', matters stood very well.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The TLL notes that it is weaker than [[optimus]].^(TLL)

+

+ Its use of persons, “of excellent character”, rests on a conjectural reading in Cicero.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012) Petronius has Trimalchio praise a doorkeeper's lodge as very good.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a sheep, a house and a lunch.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of silverware, farmland and a situation.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius uses it.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Very good of its kind, [[m|en|excellent]]; very good for its purpose.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+ # ''(of persons)'' Of excellent character.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Very [[m|en|favourable]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bonus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}