idoneus

idoneus

Latin

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps from an unattested *idō (“there”), from Proto-Indo-European *íd + *-de ~ *-do (compare dōnique), +‎ -eus,[1] but de Vaan considers this improbable.[2]

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /iˈdoː.ne.us/, [ɪˈd̪oːneʊs̠]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /iˈdo.ne.us/, [iˈd̪ɔːneus]

Adjective

idōneus (feminine idōnea, neuter idōneum, comparative magis idōneus, superlative maximē idōneus, adverb idōneē); first/second-declension adjective

1. suitable, proper, fit, apt, convenient

   Synonyms: commodus, conveniēns, aptus, habilis, opportūnus, dignus, lēgitimus, ūtilis, salūber, iūstus, ūtēnsilis

   Antonyms: incommodus, inūtilis, ineptus

   • c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico VII, 15:

     Dēfēnsōrēs oppidō idōneī dēliguntur.

     Defenders are being selected who are suited to defend the fortified town.

2. sufficient

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Number	Singular				Plural
Case / Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	idōneus	idōnea	idōneum		idōneī	idōneae	idōnea
Genitive	idōneī	idōneae	idōneī		idōneōrum	idōneārum	idōneōrum
Dative	idōneō		idōneō		idōneīs
Accusative	idōneum	idōneam	idōneum		idōneōs	idōneās	idōnea
Ablative	idōneō	idōneā	idōneō		idōneīs
Vocative	idōnee	idōnea	idōneum		idōneī	idōneae	idōnea

Related terms

• idōneē
• idōneitās

Descendants

• → Catalan: idoni
• → English: idoneous
• → French: idoine
• → Italian: idoneo
• → Portuguese: idóneo, idôneo
• → Spanish: idóneo

References

• “idoneus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “idoneus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• idoneus in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• idoneus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette
• Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎, London: Macmillan and Co.
  • to meet with good weather: tempestatem idoneam, bonam nancisci
    
  • to find a suitable pretext: causam idoneam nancisci
    
  • in a favourable position: idoneo, aequo, suo (opp. iniquo) loco
    
  • to choose suitable ground for an engagement: locum ad pugnam idoneum deligere
    
  • the ships sail out on a fair wind: ventum (tempestatem) nancti idoneum ex portu exeunt
    
• idoneus in Ramminger, Johann (accessed 16 July 2016) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎, pre-publication website, 2005-2016

1. Walde, Alois; Hofmann, Johann Baptist (1938), “idōneus”, in Lateinisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), volume 1, 3rd edition, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, page 375
2. De Vaan, Michiel (2008) Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 295