El sufijo latino <i>-ulentus</i>

The author thinks that the suffix -ulentus can be explained from the prototype *oppolens. So it is an intensive compound with the prefix ob- (cf. EMERITA 47, 1979, p. 113 ss.) plus the present participle of polleo, previously poleo with simple -l- (cf. Actas del 5.° Congr. Esp. de Est. Clás., p. 86). This compound became *op-pulentus and thereafter opulentus; its meaning was ‘powerful’ or ‘very powerful’. The Latins, because the popular etymology, understood the initial op- as from the root ops/opis ‘wealth’. On the other hand, because the close relationship between the ideas of ‘power’ and ‘wealth’, they transferred to opulentus the meaning of ‘rich’. Once opulentus was understood as derived from ops, this formation was spread with the idea of abundance: fraudulentus, luculentus, uiolentus, uinolentus, etc