mediocris Latin · revision 8340

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=Plautus|origins=la medius, la ocris}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [mɛˈdi.ɔ.krɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [meˈdiː.o.kris]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mediocris''' (neuter mediocre, comparative mediocrior, superlative medioximus, adverb mediocriter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Varro has the feminine plural ''mediocris''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[medius]] “middle” and [[ocris]] “rugged mountain”, as if “halfway up”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's earliest citation for middling quality is from Lucilius.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant of medium size or amount, moderate, as in Cicero, and of abstract things moderate in degree, trivial, commonplace, and intermediate; in Lucilius it meant of middling quality.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''medius'' is purely local, in the middle, ''modicus'' refers to quantity, opposed to excess, and ''mediocris'' to quality, opposed to distinction.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant middling, moderate, mediocre.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for the middle class of society, and the plural ''mediocrēs'' for people of middle rank.^(Niermeyer 1976) British Medieval Latin used it for medium size and middle age.^(DMLBS) It was borrowed into Italian and French ''mediocre'', ''médiocre'', and through French it gave [[en|mediocre]] in the 1580s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of middling quality.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 1580s – English ''mediocre'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of medium size, moderate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Minor, trivial.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Middling; ordinary, [[m|en|mediocre]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Intermediate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Of the middle class.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mediocriculus]]

+ * [[mediocritās]]

+ * [[permediocris]]

+ * [[mediocriter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[medioximus]]

+ * [[medius]]

+ * [[modicus]]

+ * [[en|mediocre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[medius]] and [[modicus]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}