mollis Latin · revision 6777

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *ml̥dus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmɔl.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɔl.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mollis''' (neuter molle, comparative mollior, superlative mollissimus, adverb molliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*moldus|t=soft]], [[inh|ine-pro|*ml̥dus|t=soft]], through *moldu̯i- and *mollwi-: Latin remade u-stem adjectives as i-stems.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The older u-stem survives in [[molluscus]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|मृदु|tr=mṛdú-|t=soft, delicate]], [[cy|blydd|t=soft]] and [[cu|младъ|tr=mladŭ]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Ennius, whose cranes set down their supple legs.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant yielding to the touch, soft, as Plautus' mist, of the body soft or flabby, and tender, typical of women or used of effeminate men.^(OLD 2012) It also meant supple, flexible, as Virgil's pliant rush, physically weak, as the soft bodies of the Gauls in Livy, and of terrain easy to cross.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Figuratively it meant gentle, mild, pleasant, and in a bad sense soft, unmanly.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ It survives in Italian ''molle'', French ''mou'', Spanish ''muelle'' and Romanian ''moale''.^(Wiktionary) [[en|mollify]] comes through Late Latin ''mollificāre'' in the late 14th century, and [[en|mollusk]] through the New Latin ''Mollusca''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the supple legs of cranes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of soft mist.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of the soft bodies of the Gauls.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Soft]], yielding to the touch.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of the body)'' Flabby, flaccid.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Tender, delicate; [[m|en|effeminate]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Supple, [[m|en|flexible]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Physically weak, feeble.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of terrain)'' Easy to cross.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Gentle, mild.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mollicellus]]

+ * [[mollicomus]]

+ * [[molliculus]]

+ * [[mollificō]]

+ * [[mollificus]]

+ * [[molliō]]

+ * [[mollipēs]]

+ * [[mollitiēs]]

+ * [[mollitūdō]]

+ * [[molluscus]]

+ * [[permollis]]

+ * [[praemollis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|mollify]]

+ * [[en|mollusk]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}