Etymologically
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arduus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈar.du.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈar.du.us][1]

Forms

arduus (feminine ardua, neuter arduum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *arþwo-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rdʰ-wo- (“high, upright”).[2][1] Cognate with Old Irish ard (“high”), Welsh ardd (“high”), Sanskrit ऊर्ध्व (ūrdhvá, “upright, high”) and Ancient Greek ὀρθός (orthós, “upright”).[2][3] Since *-rdʰ- normally gives Latin /rb/, the /rd/ needs explaining, and Lubotsky suggests the preceding /r/ and following /w/ prevented the change.[2] Wiktionary calls the etymology disputed.[2][1] The root may be a derivative of Proto-Indo-European *h₃er- (“to rise”), the root of orior.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Ennius, who wrote of lofty Pergamum.[2][3] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant tall, lofty, towering, as Cicero's steep mountains, then rearing up, as the uplifted heads of Virgil's boxers, and situated on high.[3] Of a slope or road it meant steep, uphill, and by transfer difficult, troublesome, arduous, as Cicero's great and difficult work.[3][5] Of the mind it meant sublime, as Statius' lofty virtue.[3] Döderlein says it is what is hard to climb, opposed to prōnus, while difficilis is what is hard to do.[6]

English arduous was formed from it in the 1530s, first in the sense “hard to accomplish”.[7]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of lofty Pergamum.[3][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a steep approach.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a difficult task.[3][4]
  • 1530s – English arduous is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Tall, lofty, towering.[3]
  2. Rearing up, erect.[3]
  3. Situated on high, elevated.[3]
  4. Steep, precipitous, uphill.[3]
  5. Difficult, troublesome, arduous.[3]
  6. (of the mind) Sublime, lofty.[3]

Word family

  • arduitās
  • perarduus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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 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
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com