calvor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkaɫ.wɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkal.vor]^[1]

Forms

calvor (present infinitive calvī); third conjugation, deponent, no perfect or supine stems^[1] There is an active form calvō, and Servius has calviō.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *kalwe/o-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂l-u- (Schrijver) or ⟨*ḱlh₁-u-⟩ (LIV); the LIV's derivation from the root “to call” is semantically attractive.^[3] Possible cognates are Ancient Greek κηλέω (kēléō, “to cast a spell”), Gothic 𐌷𐍉𐌻𐍉𐌽 (holon, “to slander”) and Old English hōlian (“to betray”).^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from the Twelve Tables and Plautus, and in the sense “to be deceived” from Pacuvius.^[3] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables about 450 BC and Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to devise tricks, use subterfuge against, deceive, and as a passive to be tricked, deceived, as in Pacuvius, Accius and Sallust.^[6][2][3] Its derivative calumnia “false accusation”, from ⟨*kalwomnia⟩, became far more common, the source of English calumny.^[3][4]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^[3][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][5]
• 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of being deceived.^[6][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To use subterfuge against, deceive.^[6]
2. (passive) To be tricked, deceived.^[6]

Word family

• calumnia

Related words

• English calumny

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press