mitis Latin · revision 5651

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *meh₁i-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmiː.tɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmiː.tis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mītis''' (neuter mīte, comparative mītior, superlative mītissimus); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*mīti-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*m(e)h₁i-ti-|t=soft]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[cy|mwydion|t=soft parts]], [[sga|mín|t=soft, smooth]] and [[sa|मयस्|tr=máyas-|t=refreshment, enjoyment]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) De Vaan thinks the root may be a derivative of *meh₁- “to measure”, while Wiktionary notes that the origin is disputed.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was of fruit, “sweet and juicy, mellow”, as Varro says ripe service-berries keep.^(OLD 2012) From there it spread to materials, “soft, yielding”, to forces, “mild, not violent”, and to conditions, “tolerable”, as a milder exile.^(OLD 2012) Of people it meant kind, merciful or gentle in manner, and of climate mild, as Livy's fertile land and very mild sky.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''mītis'' “mild”, opposed to ''acerbus'' “harsh, sour”, with ''lēnis'' “gentle” and ''placidus'' “calm”.^(Döderlein 1874) The derived verb [[mītigō]] “to soften” gave [[en|mitigate]] in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of ripe fruit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy speaks of a very mild climate.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''mitigate'' is recorded, from ''mītigāre''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (of fruit) Sweet and juicy, [[m|en|mellow]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of materials) Soft, yielding.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Not violent, mild, subdued.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of conditions) Easy, tolerable.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of persons) Kind, [[m|en|merciful]], [[m|en|lenient]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Gentle, placid, tame.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of weather) Mild, [[m|en|clement]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[immītis]]

+ * [[mītificō]]

+ * [[mītificus]]

+ * [[mītigō]]

+ * [[mitiusculus]]

+ * [[permītis]]

+ * [[praemitis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mītigābiliter]]

+ * [[mītiganter]]

+ * [[mītigātiō]]

+ * [[mītigātīvus]]

+ * [[mītigātōrius]]

+ * [[lēnis]]

+ * [[placidus]]

+ * [[en|mitigate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes ''mītis'' (mild, the opposite of ''acerbus''), ''lēnis'' (gentle, the opposite of ''vehemēns'') and ''placidus'' (composed, the opposite of ''turbidus'').^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}