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assequor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word assequor

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*sekʷ-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈas.sɛ.kʷɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈas.se.kʷor][1]

Forms

assequor (present infinitive assequī, perfect active assecūtus sum or assequūtus sum); third conjugation, deponent[1] It is also spelled adsequor.[2]

Etymology

It is from ad- and sequor “to follow”.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨sequor⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of following to catch up.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to go after someone to catch up, as in Plautus, and to overtake, as in Lucilius.[2] In Cicero it meant to attain, win, achieve something abstract, and to grasp with the mind, understand, coniectūrā assequī is to guess.[2] Varro used it for bringing about a result.[2]

It survives in Italian asseguire.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of overtaking.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of attaining and understanding.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To follow, pursue.[2]
  2. To overtake.[2]
  3. To attain, achieve.[2]
  4. To understand, grasp.[2]

Word family

  • assecuē
  • assecula
  • assecutor

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 l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Assequor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/assequor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·