modestus Latin · revision 7420

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *med-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [mɔˈdɛs.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [moˈdɛs.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''modestus''' (feminine modesta, neuter modestum, comparative modestior, superlative modestissimus, adverb modestē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from the same root as [[modus]] “measure” but not from that noun directly: it implies a neuter ⟨s⟩-stem *modos, *modes-, from [[ine-pro|*med-|t=to measure]], with the suffix [[-tus]], as [[scelestus]] beside [[scelus]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Cognate with [[xum|mersto]].^(Wiktionary) The same stem is seen in [[moderor]].^(TLL)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of restrained persons and conduct.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant restrained, temperate, mild, as in Plautus, and of natural things calm, as quiet pools.^(OLD 2012) From Cicero it meant orderly, well-behaved, respecting propriety, decorous, modest, especially of women, and in Pliny unassuming.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short describe it as keeping due measure, calm in anger, kind to others.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Nonius derived it from ''modicus''.^(TLL)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant moderate, temperate, mild, modest, calm, sober.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it of restrained men and of mild natural phenomena.^(DMLBS) [[en|modest]] came in the 1560s through French ''modeste''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the orderly and the modest.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of the unassuming.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1560s – English ''modest'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Restrained, temperate, mild.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Orderly, well-behaved.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Decorous, [[m|en|modest]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Unassuming.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[immodestus]]

+ * [[modestia]]

+ * [[permodestus]]

+ * [[modestē]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[moderō]]

+ * [[moderor]]

+ * [[modus]]

+ * [[en|modest]]

+ * [[en|modesty]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}