alacer

== Latin == === Alternative forms === alacris === Etymology === Somewhat uncertain. The masculine nominative singular form is derived by syncope from alacris which probably developed by dissimilation from pre-Latin *alaklis, with the ending ultimately going back to *-tlis, from *-tl-, a variant of the zero-grade of the agent suffix *-tḗr. Compare volucer and volucris. However, De Vaan regards the origin of the *-kris ending as uncertain. The *ala- portion is seemingly from a root of the form *h₂elH-. De Vaan and Schrijver consider ambulō (“to traverse, walk”) a potential but not certain cognate, and reconstruct the common root (if the relationship is valid) as Proto-Indo-European *h₂elh₂- (“to wander, roam”), cognate with Ancient Greek ἀλάομαι (aláomai, “roam”). The same root may alternatively be reconstructed as Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-. Another possible cognate is Ancient Greek ἐλαύνω (elaúnō, “to drive”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁elh₂- (“to drive”). Another theory connects the word to Proto-Germanic *aljaną (“vigor, strength”), whence English ellen. === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈa.ɫa.kɛr] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈaː.la.t͡ʃer] === Adjective === alacer (feminine alacris, neuter alacre, comparative magis alacer or alacrior, superlative maximē alacer or summē alacer or alacerrimus or alacrissimus, adverb alacriter); third-declension three-termination adjective lively; brisk; quick; eager; active; peppy; excited Synonyms: strēnuus, impiger, vīvus, ācer, fortis Antonym: sēgnis glad; happy; cheerful Synonyms: libēns, laetus, vīvus, felix, hilaris, hilarus Antonyms: trīstis, infelix, maestus, miser, aeger ==== Usage notes ==== Traditionally considered to have no morphological superlative in classical Latin, though it is widely attested post-classically. ==== Declension ==== Third-declension three-termination adjective or third-declension two-termination adjective. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== === References === === Further reading === “alacer”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press “alacer”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers “alacer”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette. Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894), Latin Phrase-Book‎[2], London: Macmillan and Co.