ambitus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈam.bɪ.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈam.bi.tus]^[1]

Forms

ambitus m (genitive ambitūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ambiō (“to go round, canvass”) + -tus, a verbal noun of the fourth declension.^[2][1][3] ⟨ambiō⟩ is from ambi- and eō (“to go”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey- (“to go”).^[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Among the OLD's earliest citations are Plautus and Varro, and Köbler's earliest source is Cicero.^[2][5] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC and Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Its literal sense was a going round: a circular motion, revolution, as of the planets in Cicero; a circumference, edge; a recurring cycle, as in Pliny; and a winding route, as in Horace; with verbōrum it was a periphrasis.^[2][6] From canvassing for office it meant corrupt electioneering, bribery, as in the Rhetorica ad Herennium and Cicero, whence the courts and laws dē ambitū, and Isidore explains the ambitūs iūdicium as a trial of one who obtains office by largesse.^[2][7] It also meant courting, importunity, flattery, desire for advancement, ambition, and ostentation, as in Tacitus, Seneca and Quintilian.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a cope, a corridor, cloister, a walking about, an environment, scope, area.^[8] Medieval Latin used it for the wall of a castle, monastery or town and the bounds of a parish.^[9] English ambit (late 14th century, “precinct”) is from it, as are Italian ambito and Spanish ámbito.^[3][1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][5]
• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of bribery.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of revolutions and of electoral corruption.^[2][5]
• late 14th century – English ambit is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A circular motion, circuit, revolution.^[2]
2. Circumference, edge.^[2]
3. A cycle; a winding route.^[2]
4. ambitus verbōrum: a periphrasis.^[2]
5. Bribery in elections, corruption.^[2]
6. Courting, flattery; ambition; ostentation.^[2]
7. (Medieval Latin) An enclosure wall; a cloister.^[9][8]

Word family

• ambitūdō

Related words

• ambiō
• ambitiō
• eō
• English ambit

Usage notes

ambītus, with a long ī, is the perfect participle of ambiō.^[6][10]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
8. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
10. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.