alacer Latin · revision 4700

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈa.ɫa.kɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.la.t͡ʃer]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''alacer''' (feminine alacris, neuter alacre, comparative magis alacer or alacrior, superlative maximē alacer or summē alacer or alacerrimus or alacrissimus, adverb alacriter); third-declension three-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The masculine is also ''alacris'', in Ennius, Terence and Virgil.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Wiktionary) De Vaan considers a derivative of the root [[ine-pro|*h₂elh₂-|t=to wander]] of [[ambulō]] “to walk about”, but notes that the meanings do not demand it and the suffix would be rare.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary takes [[m|la|alacris]] from an older [[m|la|*alaklis]] by dissimilation.^(Wiktionary) Georges compared [[grc|ἐλαύνω|tr=elaúnō|t=to drive]].^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was lively, nimble or brisk, as Ennius' band of youths leaping in Bacchic fashion, and eager, keen or cheerful.^(OLD 2012) Terence asks whether someone is sad or cheerful (''alacris''), and Cicero describes Catiline as lively and glad.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was cheerful, lively, eager, brave and swift.^(MLW) It survives as [[it|alacre]], [[fr|allègre]] and [[es|alegre]].^(Wiktionary) English ''alacrity'' comes from [[alacritās]], and the musical term ''allegro'' from Italian.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses ''alacris'' of dancing youths.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''alacrity'' is recorded, from ''alacritās''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1721 – English ''allegro'' is recorded as a musical term.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lively, brisk, nimble, [[m|en|active]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Eager, keen; cheerful.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alacritās]]

+ * [[alacriter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|alacrity]]

+ * [[en|allegro]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}