circumspicio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɪr.kũːˈspɪ.ki.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [t͡ʃir.kumˈspiː.t͡ʃi.o]^[1]

Forms

circumspiciō (present infinitive circumspicere, perfect active circumspexī, supine circumspectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation^[1] Terence has the shortened perfect circumspexti and Varro circumspexe.^[2]

Etymology

It is from circum- “around” and speciō “to look”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of looking all round.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to look all round, as in Plautus, and in Cicero to survey, inspect, and to consider, weigh up.^[2] In Virgil it meant to look round and see, in Varro to examine closely, and in Caesar to look round for, seek out.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to look around, seek for, observe.^[4] Its participle circumspectus “careful” gave English circumspect.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of looking round.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of surveying and considering.^[2][3]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of seeking out.^[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To look round.^[2]
2. To survey, inspect.^[2]
3. To consider, weigh up.^[2]
4. To look round for, seek out.^[2]

Word family

• circumspectiō
• circumspector
• circumspectus
• circumspicientia

Related words

• speciō
• English circumspect

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson