approximo

Forms

approximō (present infinitive approximāre, perfect active approximāvī, supine approximātum); first conjugation^[1] The unassimilated spelling adproximō is also found.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin ad- + proximō (“to draw near”).^[1][4] Proximō comes from proximus (“nearest”), the superlative of prope (“near”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Tertullian (Adversus Iudaeos 11), meaning to draw near.^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

It is a word of Ecclesiastical Latin, also used in the Vulgate, meaning to approach or come close to.^[3][6][7] Medieval writers used it of persons and things drawing near in place and time, of attacking, and figuratively of getting close to something by inquiry, of reaching, and of having a claim to something.^[8] From its past participle, Late Latin approximatus, English formed approximate in the 1640s.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it in the sense “draw near”.^[2][3][5]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it.^[3][5]
• 1640s – English forms approximate from its Late Latin past participle.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Late Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin) To approach, draw near to, be near.^[2][3][6]
2. (Medieval Latin) To approach in time, be at hand.^[8]
3. (Medieval Latin) To come close to by inquiry; to reach; to have a claim to.^[8]

Word family

• approximātiō

Related words

• English approximate

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
8. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften