insipidus Latin · revision 4602

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Apuleius|origins=la sapiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ĩːˈsɪ.pɪ.dʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈsiː.pi.dus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnsipidus''' (feminine īnsipida, neuter īnsipidum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|in-|sapidus|t2=tasty]], from [[sapio|alt=sapiō]] “to taste; to be wise”.^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Apuleius.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Apuleius c. 125–175 AD.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a late word meaning tasteless, without flavour, as Firmicus Maternus speaks of an insipid taste, and Paulinus of Nola of food more insipid than boiled beet.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Figuratively it meant dull, and a Christian writer asks how insipid the prophets are if Christ is not understood.^(Georges 1913)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was also used of people, foolish, ignorant or unlearned.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW) British writers used it of tasteless or bitter food and water, as Gerald of Wales of water neither sweet nor fully salt.^(DMLBS) [[en|insipid]] is recorded in the 1610s through French ''insipide''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus speaks of an insipid taste.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1610s – English ''insipid'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Tasteless, [[m|en|insipid]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Unpalatable.^(Wiktionary)^(DMLBS)

+ # Dull, ''(Medieval Latin)'' foolish, unlearned.^(Wiktionary)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[īnsipiditās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sapio|alt=sapiō]]

+ * [[en|insipid]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}