verbthird (-iō variant) conjugation, no passive, no supine stem
sapiō
sapiō (present infinitive sapere, perfect active sapīvī or sapiī or sapuī)
Classical[ˈsa.pi.oː]Ecclesiastical[ˈsaː.pi.o]
Mille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- to be wise, or sensible, discreet, prudent
- intransitiveto have taste, have flavour, be intelligent, show good sense, or know, understand, or have in mind, think.
- transitiveto taste of, taste like, smack of, have a flavour of
- figurativelyintransitiveto have good taste; have sense, discernment
istucc est sapere nōn quod ante pedēs modost / vidēre sed etiam illa quae futūra sunt / prōspicere
That's what it is to be smart: not just to see what's before your feet, but also to look ahead into those things that will be.160 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Adelphoe 379 - figurativelytransitiveto know, understand (mostly with general objects)
- EarlyMedieval Latinto know how to do; to be able to do
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
quī vērē scit quid bonum sit.sapiēns -entis — in Mille Verba, Animus et Adfectūs
intellegō et bene agō; sapiēns aquam vīnō miscet.sapiō -ere sapīvī — in Mille Verba, Convīvium
quī multa scitsapiēns -entis — in Evangelium secundum Matthaeum, ch. 1
intellegō, rēctē iūdicōsapiō -ere — in Evangelium secundum Matthaeum, ch. 14
intellegō, rēctē sentiōsapiō -ere — in Evangelium secundum Marcum, ch. 13
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Sapiens · Prudens · Callidus · Scitus · Solers · Cordatus · Catus
1. Sapiens (from σήπω) is the person who chooses right objects, from ennobling views, and pursues them with quietness of mind; prudens and callidus denote the person who chooses right means, and regulates them with circumspection; prudentia is a natural judiciousness, pervading a man’s whole nature: calliditas, an acquired knowledge of the world and of men, gained by experience and practice. Cic. Fr. Scaur. 5. Hominis prudentis natura, callidi usu, doctrina eruditi. 2. Prudens is the person who has accurate practical views, in opp. to stultus; scitus, who has tact, mother-wit, and the faculty of combination; solers, who possesses practical genius and inventive power; cordatus, who has his head in the right place, in opp. to excors; catus, who discovers and knows secret means and ways. (v. 114.)
Conjugation
| form | present | imperfect | future | perfect | pluperfect | fut. perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | sapiō | sapiēbam | sapiam | sapīvī sapiī, sapuī | sapīveram sapieram, sapueram | sapīverō sapierō, sapuerō |
| 2nd sg. | sapis | sapiēbās | sapiēs | sapīvistī sapiistī, sapuistī | sapīverās sapierās, sapuerās | sapīveris sapieris, sapueris |
| 3rd sg. | sapit | sapiēbat | sapiet | sapīvit sapiit, sapuit | sapīverat sapierat, sapuerat | sapīverit sapierit, sapuerit |
| 1st pl. | sapimus | sapiēbāmus | sapiēmus | sapīvimus sapiimus, sapuimus | sapīverāmus sapierāmus, sapuerāmus | sapīverimus sapierimus, sapuerimus |
| 2nd pl. | sapitis | sapiēbātis | sapiētis | sapīvistis sapiistis, sapuistis | sapīverātis sapierātis, sapuerātis | sapīveritis sapieritis, sapueritis |
| 3rd pl. | sapiunt | sapiēbant | sapient | sapīvērunt sapīvēre, sapiērunt, sapiēre, sapuērunt, sapuēre | sapīverant sapierant, sapuerant | sapīverint sapierint, sapuerint |
active subjunctive
| form | present | imperfect | perfect | pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | sapiam | saperem | sapīverim sapierim, sapuerim | sapīvissem sapiissem, sapuissem |
| 2nd sg. | sapiās | saperēs | sapīverīs sapierīs, sapuerīs | sapīvissēs sapiissēs, sapuissēs |
| 3rd sg. | sapiat | saperet | sapīverit sapierit, sapuerit | sapīvisset sapiisset, sapuisset |
| 1st pl. | sapiāmus | saperēmus | sapīverīmus sapierīmus, sapuerīmus | sapīvissēmus sapiissēmus, sapuissēmus |
| 2nd pl. | sapiātis | saperētis | sapīverītis sapierītis, sapuerītis | sapīvissētis sapiissētis, sapuissētis |
| 3rd pl. | sapiant | saperent | sapīverint sapierint, sapuerint | sapīvissent sapiissent, sapuissent |
imperative
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| pres. 2nd sg. | sape | — |
| pres. 2nd pl. | sapite | — |
| fut. 2nd sg. | sapitō | — |
| fut. 3rd sg. | sapitō | — |
| fut. 2nd pl. | sapitōte | — |
| fut. 3rd pl. | sapiuntō | — |
infinitives & participles
| form | active | passive |
|---|---|---|
| present infinitive | sapere | — |
| perfect infinitive | sapīvisse sapiisse, sapuisse | — |
| present participle | sapiēns sapiente, sapientem, sapientēs, sapientī, sapientia, sapientibus, sapientis, sapientīs, sapientium | — |
gerundsapiendī, sapiendō, sapiendum
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- sapere (Off. 2. 14. 48)
- to be a man of sense, judgment.
- hoc in sapientem non cadit
- it is incompatible with the nature of a wise man; the wise are superior to such things.
- quem intellegimus sapientem?
- what do we understand by "a wise man"?
- hoc nihil ad sapientem pertinet
- a wise man is in no way affected by this.
săpĭo, īvi or ĭi (sapui, Aug. Civ. Dei, 1, 10; id. Ep. 102, 10; but sapivi, Nov. ap. Prisc. p. 879 P.; id. ap. Non. 508, 21:
I.
saPisti, Mart. 9, 6, 7: sapisset, Plaut. Rud. 4, 1, 8), 3, v. n. and a. [kindr. with ὀπός, σαφής, and σοφός], to taste, savor; to taste, smack, or savor of, to have a taste or flavor of a thing (cf. gusto). I. Lit. (so only in a few examples).
1. Of things eaten or drunk:
oleum male sapiet, Cato, R. R. 66, 1: occisam saepe sapere plus multo suem, Plaut. Mil. 2, 6, 104: quin caseus jucundissime sapiat, Col. 7, 8, 2: nil rhombus nil dama sapit, Juv. 11, 121.—With an acc. of that of or like which a thing tastes: quis (piscis) saperet ipsum mare, Sen. Q. N. 3, 18, 2: cum in Hispaniā multa mella herbam eam sapiunt, Plin. 11, 8, 8, § 18: ipsum aprum (ursina), Petr. 66, 6.—Poet.: anas plebeium sapit, has a vulgar taste, Petr. poët. 93, 2: quaesivit quidnam saperet simius, Phaedr. 3, 4, 3.—* 2. Of that which tastes, to have a taste or a sense of taste (perh. so used for the sake of the play upon signif. II.):
nec sequitur, ut, cui cor sapiat, ei non sapiat palatus, Cic. Fin. 2, 8, 24.— 3. Transf., of smell, to smell of or like a thing (syn.: oleo, redoleo; very rare): Cicero, Meliora, inquit, unguenta sunt, quae terram quam crocum sapiunt. Hoc enim maluit dixisse quam redolent. Ita est profecto;
illa erit optima, quae unguenta sapiat, Plin. 17, 5, 3, § 38: invenitur unguenta gratiosiora esse, quae terram, quam quae crocum sapiunt, id. 13, 3, 4, § 21.—In a lusus verbb. with signif. II.: istic servus quid sapit? Ch. Hircum ab alis, Plaut. Ps. 2, 4, 47.— II. Trop.
1. To taste or smell of, savor of, i. e.,
a. To resemble (late Lat.):
patruos, Pers. 1, 11.—b. To suggest, be inspired by:
quia non sapis ea quae Dei sunt, Vulg. Matt. 16, 23; id. Marc. 8, 33.—c. Altum or alta sapere, to be high-minded or proud:
noli altum sapere, Vulg. Rom. 11, 20: non alta sapientes, id. ib. 12, 16.—2. To have good taste, i.e. to have sense or discernment; to be sensible, discreet, prudent, wise, etc. (the predominant signif. in prose and poetry; most freq. in the P. a.).
(a). Neutr., Plaut. Ps. 2, 3, 14:
si aequum siet Me plus sapere quam vos, dederim vobis consilium catum, etc., id. Ep. 2, 2, 73 sq.: jam diu edepol sapientiam tuam abusa est haec quidem. Nunc hinc sapit, hinc sentit, id. Poen. 5, 4, 30; cf.: populus est moderatior, quoad sentit et sapit tuerique vult per se constitutam rem publicam, Cic. Rep. 1, 42, 65; so (with sentire), Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 292; id. Bacch. 4, 7, 19; id. Merc. 2, 2, 24; id. Trin. 3, 2, 10 sq.; cf.: qui sapere et fari possit quae sentiat, Hor. Ep. 1, 4, 9; Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 14: magna est admiratio copiose sapienterque dicentis, quem qui audiunt intellegere etiam et sapere plus quam ceteros arbitrantur, Cic. Off. 2, 14, 48: veluti mater Plus quam se sapere Vult (filium), Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 27: qui (puer) cum primum sapere coepit, Cic. Fam. 14, 1, 1; Poët. ap. Cic. Fam. 7, 16, 1: malo, si sapis, cavebis, if you are prudent, wise, Plaut. Cas. 4, 4, 17; so, si sapis, id. Eun. 1, 1, 31; id. Men. 1, 2, 13; id. Am. 1, 1, 155; id. Aul. 2, 9, 5; id. Curc. 1, 1, 28 et saep.; Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 53; id. Heaut. 2, 3, 138: si sapias, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 39; 4, 4, 61; id. Poen. 1, 2, 138; Ter. Heaut. 3, 3, 33; Ov. H. 5, 99; 20, 174: si sapies, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 78; id. Rud. 5, 3, 35; Ter. Heaut. 4, 4, 26; Ov. M. 14, 675: si sapiam, Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 38; id. Rud. 1, 2, 8: si sapiet, id. Bacch. 4, 9, 74: si saperet, Cic. Quint. 4, 16: hi sapient, * Caes. B. G. 5, 30: Ph. Ibo. Pl. Sapis, you show your good sense, Plaut. Mil. 4, 8, 9; id. Merc. 5, 2, 40: hic homo sapienter sapit, id. Poen. 3, 2, 26: quae (meretrix) sapit in vino ad rem suam, id. Truc. 4, 4, 1; cf. id. Pers. 1, 3, 28: ad omnia alia aetate sapimus rectius, Ter. Ad. 5, 3, 46: haud stulte sapis, id. Heaut. 2, 3, 82: te aliis consilium dare, Foris sapere, id. ib. 5, 1, 50: pectus quoi sapit, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 12; id. Mil. 3, 1, 191; id. Trin. 1, 2, 53; cf.: cui cor sapiat, Cic. Fin. 2, 8, 24: id (sc. animus mensque) sibi solum per se sapit, id sibi gaudet, Lucr. 3, 145.—(b). Act., to know, understand a thing (in good prose usually only with general objects):
recte ego rem meam sapio, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 81: nullam rem, id. Most. 5, 1, 45: qui sibi semitam non sapiunt, alteri monstrant viam, Poët. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 58, 132; Cic. Att. 14, 5, 1; Plaut. Mil. 2, 3, 65; cf.: quamquam quis, qui aliquid sapiat, nunc esse beatus potest? Cic. Fam. 7, 28, 1: quantum ego sapio, Plin. Ep. 3, 6, 1: jam nihil sapit nec sentit, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 7, 22: nihil, Cic. Tusc. 2, 19, 45: plane nihil, id. Div. in Caecil. 17, 55: nihil parvum, i. e. to occupy one's mind with nothing trivial (with sublimia cures), Hor. Ep. 1, 12, 15; cf.: cum sapimus patruos, i.e. resemble them, imitate them in severity, Pers. 1, 11. —3. Prov.: sero sapiunt Phryges, are wise behind the time; or, as the Engl. saying is, are troubled with afterwit:
sero sapiunt Phryges proverbium est natum a Trojanis, qui decimo denique anno velle coeperant Helenam quaeque cum eā erant rapta reddere Achivis, Fest. p. 343 Müll.: in Equo Trojano (a tragedy of Livius Andronicus or of Naevius) scis esse in extremo, Sero sapiunt. Tu tamen, mi vetule, non sero, Cic. Fam. 7, 16, 1.—Hence, să-pĭens, entis (abl. sing. sapiente, Ov. M. 10, 622; gen. plur. sapientum, Lucr. 2, 8; Hor. S. 2, 3, 296; but sapientium, id. C. 3, 21, 14), P. a. (acc. to II.), wise, knowing, sensible, well-advised, discreet, judicious (cf. prudens). A. In gen.:
ut quisque maxime perspicit, quid in re quāque verissimum sit, quique acutissime et celerrime potest et videre et explicare rationem, is prudentissimus et sapientissimus rite haberi solet, Cic. Off. 1, 5, 16; cf.: sapientissimum esse dicunt eum, cui quod opus sit ipsi veniat in mentem: proxume acceder illum, qui alterius bene inventis obtemperet, id. Clu. 31, 84: M. Bucculeius, homo neque meo judicio stultus et suo valde sapiens, id. de Or. 1, 39, 179: rex aequus ac sapiens, id. Rep. 1, 26, 42; cf.: Cyrus justissimus sapientissimusque rex, id. ib. 1, 27, 43: bonus et sapiens et peritus utilitatis civilis, id. ib. 2, 29, 52: o, Neptune lepide, salve, Neque te aleator ullus est sapientior, Plaut. Rud. 2, 3, 29: quae tibi mulier videtur multo sapientissima? id. Stich. 1, 2, 66: (Aurora) ibat ad hunc (Cephalum) sapiens a sene diva viro, wise, discreet, Ov. H. 4, 96 Ruhnk.; so, puella, id. M. 10, 622: mus pusillus quam sit sapiens bestia, Plaut. Truc. 4, 4, 15; id. As. 3, 3, 114 et saep.—With gen. (analogous to gnarus, peritus, etc.): qui sapiens rerum esse humanarum velit, Gell. 13, 8, 2.—Subst.: săpĭens, entis, m., a sensible, shrewd, knowing, discreet, or judicious person: semper cavere hoc sapientes aequissimumst, Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 20; cf.: omnes sapientes suom officium aequom est colere et facere, id. Stich. 1, 1, 38; id. Trin. 2, 2, 84: dictum sapienti sat est, id. Pers. 4, 7, 19; Ter. Phorm. 3, 3, 8; Plaut. Rud. 2, 4, 15 sq.: insani sapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui, Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 15: sapiens causas reddet, id. S. 1, 4, 115: quali victu sapiens utetur, id. ib. 2, 2, 63; 1, 3, 132.—In a lusus verbb. with the signif. of sapio, I., a person of nice taste: qui utuntur vino vetere sapientes puto Et qui libenter veteres spectant fabulas, good judges, connoisseurs, Plaut. Cas. prol. 5: fecundae leporis sapiens sectabitur armos, Hor. S. 2, 4, 44.—As a surname of the jurists Atilius, C. Fabricius, M'. Curius, Ti. Coruncanius, Cato al., v. under B. fin.—b. Of abstract things:
opera, Plaut. Pers. 4, 5, 2: excusatio, Cic. Att. 8, 12, 2: modica et sapiens temperatio, id. Leg. 3, 7, 17: mores, Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 25: verba, Ter. Ad. 5, 1, 7: consilium, Ov. M. 13, 433: Ulixes, vir sapienti facundiā praeditus, Gell. 1, 15, 3: morus, quae novissima urbanarum germinat, nec nisi exacto frigore, ob id dicta sapientissima arborum, Plin. 16, 25, 41, § 102.—B. After the predominance of Grecian civilization and literature, particularly of the Grecian philosophy, like σοφός, well acquainted with the true value of things, wise; and subst., a wise man, a sage (in Cic. saepiss.): ergo hic, quisquis est, qui moderatione et constantiā quietus animo est sibique ipse placatus ut nec tabescat molestiis nec frangatur timore nec sitienter quid expetens ardeat desiderio nec alacritate futili gestiens deliquescat;
is est sapiens quem quaerimus, is est beatus, Cic. Tusc. 4, 17, 37: sapientium praecepta, id. Rep. 3, 4, 7: si quod raro fit, id portentum putandum est: sapientem esse portentum est. Saepius enim mulam peperisse arbitror, quam sapientem fuisse, id. Div. 2, 28, 61: statuere quid sit sapiens, vel maxime videtur esse sapientis, id. Ac. 2, 3, 9; cf. id. Rep. 1, 29, 45.—So esp. of the seven wise men of Greece: ut ad Graecos referam orationem ... septem fuisse dicuntur uno tempore, qui sapientes et haberentur et vocarentur, Cic. de Or. 3, 34, 137: eos vero septem quos Graeci sapientes nominaverunt, id. Rep. 1, 7, 12: sapienti assentiri ... se sapientem profiteri, id. Fin. 2,3, 7.—Ironically: sapientum octavus, Hor. S. 2, 3, 296.—With the Romans, an appellation of Lœlius: te, Laeli, sapientem et appellant et existimant. Tribuebatur hoc modo M. Catoni: scimus L. Atilium apud patres nostros appellatum esse sapientem, sed uterque alio quodam modo: Atilius, qui prudens esse in jure civili putabatur; Cato quia multarum rerum usum habebat ... propterea quasi cognomen jam habebat in senectute sapientis ... Athenis unum accepimus et eum quidem etiam Apollinis oraculo sapientissimum judicatum, Cic. Lael. 2, 6; cf.: numquam ego dicam C. Fabricium, M'. Curium, Ti. Coruncanium, quos sapientes nostri majores judicabant, ad istorum normam fuisse sapientes, id. ib. 5, 18: ii, qui sapientes sunt habiti, M. Cato et C. Laelius, id. Off. 3, 4, 16; Val. Max. 4, 1, ext. 7; Lact. 4, 1.—Hence, adv.: săpĭen-ter, sensibly, discreetly, prudently, judiciously, wisely: recte et sapienter facere, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 133; id. Mil. 3, 3, 34: consulere, id. ib. 3, 1, 90: insipienter factum sapienter ferre, id. Truc. 4, 3, 33: factum, id. Aul. 3, 5, 3: dicta, id. Rud. 4, 7, 24: quam sapienter jam reges hoc nostri viderint, Cic. Rep. 2, 17, 31: provisa, id. ib. 4, 3, 3: a majoribus prodita fama, id. ib. 2, 2, 4: considerate etiam sapienterque fecerunt, id. Phil. 4, 2, 6; 13, 6, 13: vives sapienter, Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 44: agendum, Ov. M. 13, 377: temporibus uti, Nep. Epam. 3, 1; Hor. C. 4, 9, 48.—Comp.: facis sapientius Quam pars latronum, etc., Plaut. Curc. 4, 3, 15; id. Poen. prol. 7: nemo est, qui tibi sapientius suadere possit te ipso, Cic. Fam. 2, 7, 1: sapientius fecisse, id. Brut. 42, 155.—Sup.: quod majores nostros et probavisse maxime et retinuisse sapientissime judico, Cic. Rep. 2, 37, 63.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
sapiō īvī, —, ere
SAP-, to taste of, smack of, savor of, have a flavor of : nil rhombus nil dama sapit, has no flavor , Iu.: Quaesivit, quidnam saperet (simius), Ph.— To have a sense of taste, perceive flavors : ut, cui cor sapiat, ei non sapiat palatus. —Fig., to have taste, have discernment, be sensible, be discreet, be wise, discern : populus est moderatior, quoad sentit et sapit: Qui sapere et fari possit quae sentiat, H.: abeas, si sapis, if you are wise , T.: hi sapient, Cs.: te aliis consilium dare, Foris sapere, T.: Qui sibi semitam non sapiunt, alteri monstrant viam, know , C. poët.: quamquam quis, qui aliquid sapiat, nunc esse beatus potest?: nihil: Nil parvum, i. e. attend to nothing trivial , H.—Prov.: sero sapiunt, are wise too late .
Origins
From Proto-Italic *sapjō, from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁p-. According to De Vaan, the term probably reflects a PIE athematic i-present of the shape *sh₁p-i-. The LIV, however, derives the term from Proto-Indo-European *sh₁p-yé-ti, a ye-present belonging to the same root.
Gallo-Romance
- Catalansabre
- Catalansebre
- Occitansabre
- Occitansaupre
- Catalansaber
- Occitansaber
- Gasconsàber
- Gasconassàber
- Franco-Provençalsavêr
- Franco-Provençalchair
Italo-Romance
- Italiansapere
- Sardiniansaperefrom Italian sapere
- Sardiniansapirifrom Italian sapere
- Corsicansapè
- Laziosapìfrom Italian sapere
- Neapolitansapere
- Siciliansapiri
Ibero-Romance
- Portuguesesaberfrom Old Galician-Portuguese saber
- Spanishsaber
- Aragonesesaper
- Aragonesesaber
- Aragonesesabre
- Asturiansaber
- Mirandesesaber
- Galiciansaberfrom Old Galician-Portuguese saber
Dalmatian
- unknownsapro
- unknownsapar
Borrowings
- Volapüksap
North Italian
- Emiliansavair
- Emiliansavì
- Emiliansavei
- Emiliansavé
- Liguriansavéi
- Lombardsavei
- Lombardsavè
- Lombardsaì
- Piedmontesesavej
- Friuliansavê
Elsewhere
- Vulgar Latin*sapium
- Vulgar Latin*sapūtum
In English words that came into English from sapiō
- sage*sapium
- savoursapōrāre
- savorysapōrō
- savvysapiō
- insipidīnsipidus
- savantsapiō
- sapiosexualsapiens
- sapidsapidus
- resipiscenceresipīscentia
- sapiosexualitysapiens
- sapientialsapientiālis
- sapiencesapientia
- desipientdesipiens
- insipientīnsipiēns
- desipiencedesipientia
- sapienssapiēns
- saporoussaporus
- sapiophilesapiens
- saporificsapor
- saporsapor