felix Latin · revision 5344

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *dʰeh₁(y)-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfeː.liːks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɛː.liks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fēlīx''' (genitive fēlīcis, comparative fēlīcior, superlative fēlīcissimus, adverb fēlīciter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*fēl(w)ī-|t=suckling, with young]], with ⟨-c-⟩ added in Latin, from [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-l(u)-i-]], from the root *dʰeh₁(y)- “to suck”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains the development as “suckling” or “with young” > “fruitful” > “fortunate”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|θηλή|tr=thēlḗ|t=teat]] and [[sga|deil|t=sow]], and related to [[fīlius]], [[fēmina]], [[fēcundus]] and [[fētus]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Cato, quoted by Festus, uses ''arbor fēlīx'' for a fruit-bearing tree.^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was fruitful or productive, of trees and plants.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It then meant bringing good luck or auspicious, of omens, and enjoying good fortune, happy or blessed, as in Terence's ''hominem fēlīcem!'' “lucky man!”.^(OLD 2012) Sulla took it as a cognomen, ''Fēlīx'', and it became a common Roman name.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Döderlein notes that ''fēlīx'' is the most general word for happiness, both making and being happy.^(Döderlein 1874) In Christian Latin it meant blessed.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[fēlīcitās]] gave [[en|felicity]].^(Etymonline) It was borrowed into [[it|felice]] and [[es|feliz]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence exclaims “lucky man!”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius speaks of fruitful trees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''felicity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|fruitful]], productive.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Lucky, [[m|en|auspicious]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Fortunate, happy, blessed.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Blessed.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fēlīcitās]]

+ * [[īnfēlīx]]

+ * [[fēlīciter]]

+ * [[fēlīcitō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fēcundus]]

+ * [[fēmina]]

+ * [[fēnus]]

+ * [[fētus]]

+ * [[fīlius]]

+ * [[en|felicity]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different noun ''fēlix'', a variant of [[filix]] “fern”, has a short ''e''.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}