Etymologically
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absisto

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [apˈsɪs.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [abˈsis.to][1]

Forms

absistō (present infinitive absistere, perfect active abstitī); third conjugation, no supine stem, impersonal in the passive[1]

Etymology

It is from ab- “away” and sistō “to stand, set”.[2][1] Georges compares Ancient Greek ἀφίστημι (aphístēmi, “to stand away”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Georges cites Plautus, whom Köbler dates c. 250–184 BC.[3][4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Virgil.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant to stand back, withdraw, as in Virgil, and Caesar uses it as a military term, ab signīs absistere “to leave the standards”, and Livy has vestīgiīs hostis absistere “to lose the enemy's track”.[2][3][5] In Virgil it also meant to stop doing something, cease.[2]

English borrowed it as absist.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[3][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it as a military term.[3][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of ceasing.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To stand back, withdraw.[2]
  2. To cease, desist.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.