how to interpret ‘formosus’ via its morphological components











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The adj. formosus can be decomposed as follows:




forma + -os-us




where forma means ‘shape, form’ and -os- ‘with abundance’. However, when the two notions come together, the whole, which literally reads ‘with abundance of form’ does not make sense to me. Could anyone help explain how these two morphemes work together so as to bring forth the meaning ‘beautiful’?










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    up vote
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    The adj. formosus can be decomposed as follows:




    forma + -os-us




    where forma means ‘shape, form’ and -os- ‘with abundance’. However, when the two notions come together, the whole, which literally reads ‘with abundance of form’ does not make sense to me. Could anyone help explain how these two morphemes work together so as to bring forth the meaning ‘beautiful’?










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      6
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      6
      down vote

      favorite











      The adj. formosus can be decomposed as follows:




      forma + -os-us




      where forma means ‘shape, form’ and -os- ‘with abundance’. However, when the two notions come together, the whole, which literally reads ‘with abundance of form’ does not make sense to me. Could anyone help explain how these two morphemes work together so as to bring forth the meaning ‘beautiful’?










      share|improve this question













      The adj. formosus can be decomposed as follows:




      forma + -os-us




      where forma means ‘shape, form’ and -os- ‘with abundance’. However, when the two notions come together, the whole, which literally reads ‘with abundance of form’ does not make sense to me. Could anyone help explain how these two morphemes work together so as to bring forth the meaning ‘beautiful’?







      vocabulary etymologia meaning language-evolution morphologia






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      asked Dec 1 at 11:46









      Lynnyo

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          Forma means not only "shape, form", but also "good/pleasing shape, form", i.e. "beauty". (This is a type of semantic shift called amelioration.) "Having / being abundant in beauty" = "beautiful".






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            1 Answer
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            active

            oldest

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            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            7
            down vote



            accepted










            Forma means not only "shape, form", but also "good/pleasing shape, form", i.e. "beauty". (This is a type of semantic shift called amelioration.) "Having / being abundant in beauty" = "beautiful".






            share|improve this answer

























              up vote
              7
              down vote



              accepted










              Forma means not only "shape, form", but also "good/pleasing shape, form", i.e. "beauty". (This is a type of semantic shift called amelioration.) "Having / being abundant in beauty" = "beautiful".






              share|improve this answer























                up vote
                7
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                7
                down vote



                accepted






                Forma means not only "shape, form", but also "good/pleasing shape, form", i.e. "beauty". (This is a type of semantic shift called amelioration.) "Having / being abundant in beauty" = "beautiful".






                share|improve this answer












                Forma means not only "shape, form", but also "good/pleasing shape, form", i.e. "beauty". (This is a type of semantic shift called amelioration.) "Having / being abundant in beauty" = "beautiful".







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                answered Dec 1 at 18:09









                TKR

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