Etymologically
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algeo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈaɫ.ɡe.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈal̠ʲ.d͡ʒe.o][1]

Forms

algeō (present infinitive algēre, perfect active alsī); second conjugation, no passive, no supine stem[1]

Etymology

The etymology is uncertain.[2] De Vaan sets up Proto-Italic *alg- and a PIE root Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)lgʰ- (“(to be) cold”), and tentatively compares Modern Icelandic elgur (“frozen snow”).[2][1] If algor “cold” is old and reflects an s-stem, a PIE s-noun could be reconstructed, but this is doubtful.[2] Festus derived it from Greek Ancient Greek ἀλγέω (algéō, “to feel pain”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose character complains that since leaving with his clothes on he is cold.[2][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to feel cold or become cold, as Cato's advice that the household should not be cold or hungry, and to endure cold, as Cicero's youth trained by hunger, thirst, cold and heat.[4][6] Döderlein says algēre is to feel cold, opposed to aestuāre “to be hot”, while frīgeō is to be cold as a state, opposed to caleō.[7][3] Italian algere is a learned borrowing.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of feeling cold.[4][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a household that must not be cold.[4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of enduring cold.[4][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To feel cold, be cold; to become cold.[4]
  2. To endure cold.[4]

Word family

  • algēscō
  • algidus
  • algificus
  • algor
  • algus
  • alsius
  • alsus
  • algēns
  • alsior
  • frīgeō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper