celer Latin · revision 5315

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *kel-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɛ.ɫɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃɛː.ler]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''celer''' (feminine celeris, neuter celere, comparative celerior, superlative celerrimus, adverb celeriter); third-declension three-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*keli-r/li-|t=fast]], [[inh|ine-pro|*kel-i-|t=speeding]], an old ''i''-stem.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|κέλλω|tr=kéllō|t=to drive on]], [[grc|κέλης|tr=kélēs|t=racehorse]] and [[got|𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌳𐌰𐌽|tr=haldan|t=to tend cattle]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Livius Andronicus, who has a feminine ''celer''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Naevius and Cato have a masculine ''celeris''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Köbler places Livius Andronicus before 200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant moving swiftly, fast, agile, and of people and the mind quick to act, as in Cicero's “nothing is quicker than the mind”.^(OLD 2012) Of events it meant quick or early, and of time passing quickly.^(OLD 2012) It was also a Roman cognomen, as of Metellus Celer, and the ''Celerēs'' were the bodyguard of the early kings.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Döderlein groups ''celer'' and [[citus]], swiftness of movement opposed to [[tardus]], against [[vēlōx]] and [[pernīx]], nimbleness from bodily strength.^(Döderlein 1874) In medieval Latin it could mean a courier.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[celeritās]] gave [[en|celerity]], and [[accelerō]] gave [[en|accelerate]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus asks which of two is the faster.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero says nothing is quicker than the mind.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 15th century – English ''celerity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|swift]], fast.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Agile, nimble.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of persons, the mind) Quick, prompt.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Quick, speedy, (of time) passing quickly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' (as a noun) A [[m|en|courier]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[celerēs]]

+ * [[celeripēs]]

+ * [[celeritās]]

+ * [[celeritūdō]]

+ * [[perceler]]

+ * [[praeceler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|celerity]]

+ * [[en|accelerate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}