Etymologically
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circumspicio

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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

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