decorus Latin · revision 8218

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la decet}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [dɛˈkoː.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈkɔː.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''decōrus''' (feminine decōra, neuter decōrum, adverb decōrē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[decor]] “seemliness, beauty”, from the root of [[decet]] “it is fitting”, formed like ⟨honōrus⟩ from ⟨honor⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of what is seemly.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant seemly, fitting, decent, as in Plautus, and in Sallust good-looking, handsome.^(OLD 2012) In Tacitus it meant graceful, elegant, and in Cicero honourable, glorious.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant comely, fitting, seemly, proper.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin used it for beautiful, neat, orderly, adorned.^(DMLBS) Its neuter ''decōrum'' became a noun for propriety, and the adjective gave [[en|decorous]] in the 1660s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of good looks.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 1660s – English ''decorous'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Seemly, fitting, [[m|en|decent]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Good-looking, [[m|en|handsome]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Graceful.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Honourable, glorious.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēdecōrus]]

+ * [[indecōrus]]

+ * [[perdecōrus]]

+ * [[decōrum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[decor]]

+ * [[decet]]

+ * [[decus]]

+ * [[en|decorous]]

+ * [[en|decorum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}