citra

Forms

citrā (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin citer (“nearer”) + -ā,^[1] with the adverbial ending of suprā and ultrā;^[2] the OLD derives it directly from cis (“on this side of”).^[2] In de Vaan's account the old series was ⟨cis⟩, ⟨citer⟩ and ⟨citimus⟩, from Proto-Italic *ki-tero- and Proto-Indo-European *ḱi (“this here”), a variant of the root of the particle -ce.^[3] Cognates of the root include Umbrian çimu (“back”) and Lithuanian šìs (“this”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates the preposition from Lucretius,^[3] who writes of the air that is seen first on this side of the doorposts: primus enim citra postis tum cernitur aer.^[2] The adverb appears in Cicero's Topica, “at a nearer point”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Cicero uses it of bringing an army to this side of the Rubicon,^[2] and citrā mare meant “on this side of the sea”, in Italy.^[2] Horace speaks of limits beyond and short of which right cannot stand (quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum).^[2] Ovid extends it to time, “before”, and to degree, “below, less than”: nec virtus citra genus est (“nor is his courage below his birth”).^[2] From Ovid and Celsus on it also meant “without”: peccavi citra scelus (“I did wrong, but without crime”).^[2]

Ecclesiastical Latin used it for “aside from, except”,^[5] and in Medieval Latin it could even mean “on the other side of”, “on either side of”, “about” and “free from”, with an adverb “since then”.^[6]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it as a preposition, “on this side of”.^[2][3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses the adverb and the preposition.^[2][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of limits, “short of”.^[2][4]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of time and degree, and for “without”.^[2][4]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it for “without”, of anointing short of sweating.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. On this side, on the near side.^[2][7]
2. (with motion) To this side.^[2]
3. Short of the mark, or of a given amount.^[2]

Preposition

1. (+ accusative) On this side of;^[2] citrā mare, on this side of the sea, in Italy.^[2]
2. (of time) Before.^[2]
3. Short of; below, less than.^[2]
4. Without, apart from; without going as far as.^[2][5]
5. (Medieval Latin) On the other side of; on either side of; about; free from.^[6]

Related words

• cis
• citrō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press