maximus Latin · revision 8004

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *méǵh₂s}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmak.sɪ.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmak.si.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''maximus''' (superlative, feminine maxima, neuter maximum, positive magnus, comparative maior); first/second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the superlative of [[magnus]] “great”, [[inh|itc-pro|*magisVmos]], from [[ine-pro|*méǵh₂s|t=great]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) The spelling ⟨maxumus⟩ is common in early Latin.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Ennius, of size, loudness and power.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant greatest in size, largest, as in Ennius, and in Cicero ''circus maximus'' and ''āra maxima''.^(OLD 2012) From Plautus it meant greatest in number or value, in Ennius ''maximā vōce'' at the top of one's voice, and in Virgil oldest, ''maximus nātū''.^(OLD 2012) From Plautus it meant greatest in degree, ''maximō opere'' most vehemently, and in Cicero most important.^(OLD 2012) From Ennius it meant mightiest, ''Iuppiter Optimus Maximus'', and in Cicero most senior, ''pontifex maximus'', ''annālēs maximī''; in Suetonius it was the cognomen of Fabius Maximus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant very great, greatest, maximum.^(Stelten 1995) It was borrowed into Italian ''massimo'' and Spanish ''máximo'', and its neuter gave [[en|maximum]] in 1740.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of size and power.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''maximō opere''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''pontifex maximus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1740 – English ''maximum'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Greatest, largest, ''circus maximus''.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Greatest in number or value; loudest.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Oldest.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Greatest in degree, utmost, ''maximō opere'', most vehemently.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Most important.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Mightiest; most senior, ''pontifex maximus''.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Most notable.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[maximitās]]

+ * [[maximopere]]

+ * [[permaximus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[magnus]]

+ * [[maior]]

+ * [[en|maximum]]

+ * [[en|maxim]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}