egregius Latin · revision 701

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [eːˈɡrɛ.ɡi.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈɡrɛː.d͡ʒi.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ēgregius''' (feminine ēgregia, neuter ēgregium, comparative magis ēgregius, superlative maximē ēgregius or ēgregiissimus or ēgregīssimus, adverb ēgregiē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the phrase [[m|la|ē grege|t=out of the flock]], from [[m|la|ex|t=out of]] and [[grex]] “flock”, with the suffix [[m|la|-ius]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The literal sense was “chosen from the herd”, as Festus already explained it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Etymonline) The verb [[segrego|alt=sēgregāre]] “to separate” was formed in the same way.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Ennius onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) and Terence uses it of a girl of [[m|en|outstanding]] beauty.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant outstanding in some respect, excellent or first-rate, said of people, things, qualities and actions, as in Cicero's ''egregius in procuratione civitatis'' “excellent in managing the state”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It was also used sarcastically, as of Cicero's “fine witnesses” who hid in the baths.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) The superlative ''egregiissimus'' occurs in Pacuvius, and Aulus Gellius discusses its vocative.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ From the late 2nd century AD ''vir egregius'' was a title of procurators and other officials of equestrian rank.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) English borrowed it in the 1530s as [[en|egregious]] “distinguished”, and its disapproving sense, originally ironic, arose in English in the late 16th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of outstanding beauty.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of statesmen and, ironically, of witnesses.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 167 AD – ''vir egregius'' appears as an official title in an inscription.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 1530s – English borrows it as [[en|egregious]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Outstanding, excellent, [[m|en|distinguished]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(sarcastic)'' Fine, splendid.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of rank)'' Illustrious, ''vir egregius'': a title of equestrian officials.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[egregiatus]]

+ * [[perēgregius]]

+ * [[ēgregiē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[grex]]

+ * [[en|egregious]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}