leniter Latin · revision 9759

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *leh₁-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lēniter''' (comparative lēnius, superlative lēnissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|lēnis|-ter|t1=soft, gentle]], an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces ⟨lēnis⟩ to [[itc-pro|*lēni-]], from [[ine-pro|*leh₁-n(o/i)-|t=lazy, slow]], keeping the connection with Balto-Slavic ⟨*lēnos⟩ “lazy”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus and Cato.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC and Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant with a gentle movement, gently, as in Cato, Cicero's ''lēniter arrīdēre'' “to smile gently” and Caesar's ''lēniter acclīvis'' “gently sloping”; without drastic action, lightly; slightly, mildly, as in Celsus; with a smooth sound, as of style in Cicero; and with mildness of manner, moderately, ''lēniter ferre'' “to take calmly”, as in Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ British Medieval Latin used it for gently, not violently.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of gentle movement.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # With a gentle movement, [[m|en|gently]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Lightly, without drastic effect; slightly, mildly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # With a smooth sound.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Mildly, moderately, ''lēniter ferre'', to take calmly.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lēnis]]

+ * [[lēnitās]]

+ * [[lēniō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}