adhibeo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [aˈdɪ.be.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈdiː.be.o]^[1]

Forms

adhibeō (present infinitive adhibēre, perfect active adhibuī, supine adhibitum); second conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from ad- “to” and habeō “to have, hold”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of bringing a quality into play.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to hold out the hands towards, as in Ovid, and in Lucilius to turn one's mind or ears to something.^[2] In Terence it meant to call in a witness, in Livy to invite a guest, and in Cicero to consult, to bring in from outside, and to apply medicine.^[2] From Plautus it meant to bring qualities into play, use, and in Cicero to supply, and reflexively to behave.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to add, apply, make use of.^[4] It was borrowed into Italian adibire and Spanish adhibir, and English adhibit.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of applying qualities.^[2][3]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of calling witnesses.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of consulting and applying.^[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To put to, apply.^[2]
2. To turn (one's mind) to.^[2]
3. To call in; to invite; to consult.^[2]
4. To bring in; to administer (medicine).^[2]
5. To bring into play, use.^[2]
6. To supply; reflexively, to behave.^[2]

Word family

• adhibitio
• adhibitus

Related words

• abhibeō
• antehabeō
• cohibeō
• diribeō
• exhibeō
• habeō
• inhibeō
• perhibeō
• posthabeō
• praehibeō
• English adhibit

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson