ater Latin · revision 5588

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₂eh₁ter-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈaː.tɛr]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''āter''' (feminine ātra, neuter ātrum, comparative ātrior, superlative āterrimus); first/second-declension adjective (nominative masculine singular in -er)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*ātro-|t=black]], perhaps from [[ine-pro|*h₂eh₁-t-r-|t=fire, fireplace]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[xum|atru|t=black]], and further with [[sga|áith|t=kiln]] and [[ae|𐬁𐬙𐬀𐬭|tr=ātar|t=fire]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan finds a shift from “fiery” to “black” unconvincing, and suggests the adjective first meant “coloured like a fireplace”, sooty.^(de Vaan 2008) [[ātrium]] may belong here if it was first the room with the hearth, as the ancients believed.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, who speaks of a black, rainy cloud.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant black or dark-coloured, as Terence's black bread, and dark or devoid of light, of clouds, storms, night and the underworld.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was used of blood blackened from wounds, of discoloured teeth, and of smoky flames.^(OLD 2012) The poets used it emotively for gloomy, deadly or ill-omened things.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Its derivative [[ātrōx]] “fierce, cruel” gave [[en|atrocious]] in the 1660s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of a black rain cloud.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence speaks of black bread.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1660s – English ''atrocious'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Black]], dark-coloured.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Dark]], gloomy (of clouds, night).^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of blood) Blackened.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Discoloured, stained.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of flames) Smoky.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Dismal, deadly, ill-omened.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ātrāmentum]]

+ * [[ātrātus]]

+ * [[ātricapillus]]

+ * [[atricolor]]

+ * [[atritas]]

+ * [[atritus]]

+ * [[atrōx]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[atrōcitās]]

+ * [[atrōciter]]

+ * [[ātrium]]

+ * [[en|atrocious]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''āter'', black as the absence of colour and dismal, opposed to [[albus]], from [[niger]], black as a colour in itself, which can be beautiful, opposed to [[candidus]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}