Piissimus and pientissimus: two nonexistent superlatives of pius?

Silvia Tantimonaco

doi:10.1515/joll-2020-2015

Abstract

Abstract The combined analysis of epigraphic, literary and grammatical sources allows light to be shed on linguistic problems concerning the two superlatives of pius, piissimus and pientissimus, which have been mostly overlooked by scholars to date. Regarding the first superlative, Cicero says that it does not exist in Latin (CIC. Phil. 13.43.9), whereas the second form is exclusively attested in epigraphy, with no occurrences in ancient literary or scholarly texts. Moreover, the morphology of pientissimus cannot be explained according to Classical Latin rules, since the only verb which is semantically related to pius, piare, belongs to the first conjugation (it also does not fit semantically). In the present paper, we will try to demonstrate that piissimus was generally avoided in the literature of the Classical age based on linguistic purism, though it was probably used in colloquial Latin, and definitely normalized as a standard form in the Post-Classical age, as can be seen in both the literary and epigraphic instances of this word. In the case of pientissimus, this may have initially spread in the epigraphic domain, and subsequently entered so-called Vulgar Latin.

Highlights

Pietas represented a central concept within Roman society.1 it is not surprising that epithets alluding to pietas appear in huge numbers in Latin epigraphy, in funerary inscriptions, where they are generally applied to theThis work is licensedS
The combined analysis of epigraphic, literary and grammatical sources allows light to be shed on linguistic problems concerning the two superlatives of pius, piissimus and pientissimus, which have been mostly overlooked by scholars to date
Exclude the possibility of producing the comparative and superlative of Latin participles, arguing that these categories only apply to nomina.58. Seen from this perspective, it is probable that pientissimus spread from pius based on the example of the morphological series of adjectives ending with -uolus, -dicus and -ficus, those formed with adverbs, such as beneuolus or maleuolus

Summary

Introduction

Pietas represented a central concept within Roman society. it is not surprising that epithets alluding to pietas appear in huge numbers in Latin epigraphy, in funerary inscriptions, where they are generally applied to the. Pietas represented a central concept within Roman society.. It is not surprising that epithets alluding to pietas appear in huge numbers in Latin epigraphy, in funerary inscriptions, where they are generally applied to the. S. Tantimonaco commemorated persons, or sometimes to the promoters of the inscriptions in question.. Tantimonaco commemorated persons, or sometimes to the promoters of the inscriptions in question.2 In this context, the superlatives piissimus and pientissimus are extremely common.. This paper pays specific attention to these forms and the linguistic challenges regarding them Tantimonaco commemorated persons, or sometimes to the promoters of the inscriptions in question. In this context, the superlatives piissimus and pientissimus are extremely common. This paper pays specific attention to these forms and the linguistic challenges regarding them

Piissimus

Pientissimus

Conclusions