Etymologically
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citra

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈkɪ.traː], [ˈkɪt.raː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈt͡ʃiː.tra], [ˈt͡ʃit.ra][1]

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]

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