Etymologically
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citro

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Forms

citrō (adverb; only with ultrō)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin cis (“on this side”), formed like citrā on the analogy of ultrō.[1][2][3] De Vaan traces cis to Proto-Italic *ki (“here, by”) and Proto-Indo-European *ḱi (“this here”), cognate with Lithuanian šìs (“this”).[2] The older Latin series was ⟨cis⟩, ⟨citer⟩, ⟨citimus⟩, to which ⟨citrō⟩ belongs.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Cato,[2] who tells the farmer to draw continuous furrows ultrō citrōque, "back and forth".[1]

Semantic evolution

It is used only together with ultrō, as ultrō citrōque, ultrō et citrō or ultrō ac citrō, to and fro, in both directions:[1][4] Cato uses it of furrows, and Varro, Cicero and Gellius have it too.[1][4] It also means on both sides, by both parties, as in Cato's great kindnesses given on both sides.[1] Köbler dates it from Pacuvius.[3]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato of furrows back and forth.[1][2]
  • 220–130 BC – Pacuvius.[3]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro with ac.[4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero.[4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. (with ultrō) To this side: ultrō citrōque, to and fro, back and forth.[1][4]
  2. (with ultrō) On both sides, by both parties, mutually.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften