alacritas Latin · revision 692

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [aˈɫa.krɪ.taːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈlaː.kri.tas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''alacritās''' ''f'' (genitive alacritātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[alacer]] “lively, brisk” with the suffix [[m|la|-tās]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan considers deriving ''alacer'' from the root [[ine-pro|*h₂elh₂-|t=to wander, roam]] of [[ambulo|alt=ambulāre]] “to walk”, with a rare suffix *-kri-, though the meanings do not compel this.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) Etymonline also mentions a comparison with [[got|𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=aljan|t=zeal]] and [[ang|ellen|t=courage, zeal]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who speaks of his [[m|en|eagerness]] to defend the republic and of the enthusiasm that the crowd of the Roman people gave him.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant enthusiasm, zeal or liveliness, as in Caesar's ''alacritas studiumque pugnandi'' “eagerness and zeal for fighting” and Cicero's description of hounds keen in the chase.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also meant gladness or rapture shown outwardly, and Cicero, following the Stoics, calls ''inanis alacritas'' “empty exultation” a passion close to madness.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) The TLL notes that it is a word of praise except in these philosophical passages.^(TLL)

+

+ Donatus defines it as a change in the expression of someone exulting in hope.^(TLL) Medieval writers used it for cheerfulness and joy.^(MLW) English borrowed it as [[en|alacrity]] in the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for zeal and for empty exultation.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar writes of the soldiers' eagerness to fight.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy tells of a shout raised in joy at finished work.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus describes the ardour that followed a general's speech.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English borrows it as [[en|alacrity]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Enthusiasm, zeal, [[m|en|eagerness]], liveliness.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Joy, gladness; exultation, rapture.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alacer]]

+ * [[alacriter]]

+ * [[en|alacrity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}