aveo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈa.we.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.ve.o]^[1]

Forms

aveō (present infinitive avēre); second conjugation, no passive, no perfect or supine stems^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *awē- (“to be eager”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eu-eh₁- (“to enjoy, consume”), a stative verb from the root Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew-.^[2][1] Cognate with Sanskrit अवति (ávati, “consumes, satisfies”) and Welsh ewyllys (“will”).^[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro,^[2] who explains auris “ear” from aveō, because we are always eager to learn.^[3] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[4] Varro also quotes Ennius: “my mind and ears long for news”.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to be eager or anxious, to desire or long to do something, and with an object to crave or desire it.^[3] Festus says avēre is nothing other than cupere.^[3][5] Its present participle avēns meant willing or eager.^[3]

Its derivatives are avidus “desirous”, avārus “greedy” and avāritia “greed”, the source of English avid and English avarice.^[2][6]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a mind longing for news.^[5][4]
• 116–27 BC – Varro derives auris from it.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of craving a kind of embassy.^[3][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To be eager, long (to do something).^[3]
2. To crave, desire.^[3]

Related words

• avidus
• avārus
• English avid
• English avarice

Usage notes

A different verb Latin aveō (also haveō) “to fare well” is used almost only in the imperative avē, a greeting on meeting and parting, like salvē.^[5][1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 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. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com