Etymologically

apparo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 01:50. This address is a permanent link to this version.

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈap.pa.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈap.pa.ro][1]

Forms

apparō (present infinitive apparāre, perfect active apparāvī, supine apparātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin ad- (“to, towards”) + parō (“to prepare, provide”).[2][1] The verb parō is inherited from Proto-Italic *parāje/o-, usually explained as a verb made from a noun Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₃-o- (“providing”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus,[3] who has a character go in so that what is needed may be made ready.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to prepare, make ready or provide, often with effort and expense, as a meal or a dinner.[2][5] Lewis and Short call it frequent and classical.[2][5] It also meant to make preparations for a project, a wedding, games or a war, to get ready to do something, and to provide in addition.[2]

A Vulgar Latin *appariculāre, perhaps from apparāre, gave Old French apareillier and English apparel, first “to prepare”, in the late 13th century.[6] It survives in Romanian apăra and Italian apparare.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of making things ready.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of preparing a dinner.[5][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar says the enemy were getting ready to act by night.[2][4]
  • late 13th century – English apparel “to prepare” is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To prepare, make ready, provide.[2]
  2. To make preparations for, organise.[2]
  3. To get ready (to do something).[2]
  4. To provide in addition.[2]

Word family

  • apparāmentum
  • apparātiō
  • apparator
  • apparatorium
  • apparatrix
  • apparātus
  • apparātē

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com