Etymologically
Log in

aucto

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 21 October 2026 at 00:30. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈau̯k.toː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈau̯k.to][1]

Forms

auctō (present infinitive auctāre, perfect active auctāvī, supine auctātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is a frequentative, from Latin augeō (“to increase”) + -tō,[2][1] formed on the participle auctus according to the TLL, which cites the grammarian Sacerdos for it.[3] De Vaan traces augeō to Proto-Indo-European *h2eug-eie-, from the root Proto-Indo-European *h2eug-s- (“to grow”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found first in the prologue of Plautus' Amphitruo, where the audience are wished prosperity bonō atque amplō auctāre perpetuō lucrō, “to increase with good, ample and lasting profit”.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

Lewis and Short know it perhaps only from three passages.[5] Lucretius uses it of nature, which creates, increases and nourishes all things,[5][6] and Catullus has the wish that Jupiter may bless someone with good help (bonā Iuppiter auctet ope).[5][3] Georges explains it as increasing more and more, and so as enriching.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of increasing profit.[3][8]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of nature increasing all things.[5][8]
  • 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of Jupiter blessing with help.[5][8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To make grow, increase greatly, augment.[2][5]
  2. (with ablative) To prosper, bless or enrich with.[2][7]

Word family

  • adauctō

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  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 f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de