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comparo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔm.pa.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔm.pa.ro][1]

Forms

comparō (present infinitive comparāre, perfect active comparāvī, supine comparātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from compār “equal, matched”, from con- and pār “equal”, with the verbal suffix -ō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, as his joining of lips to lips.[2][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to place together, couple, pair, to match or pit one against another, as in Cicero and in Livy's single combats, and to treat as equal, regard as comparable.[2][4] Then it meant to compare, estimate one thing in relation to another, as in Seneca and Cicero, and to show by comparison.[2]

It survives in French comparer and Italian and Spanish comparar.[1] English compare came through Old French comparer about 1400.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of joining lips.[2][4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of matching and comparing.[2][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of pairing fighters.[2][5]
  • c. 1400 – English compare is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To place together; to pair, couple.[2]
  2. To match, pit (against).[2]
  3. To treat as equal.[2]
  4. To compare.[2]

Word family

Usage notes

A different verb comparō, from con- and parō “to prepare”, meant to prepare, provide, procure, buy, and to arrange or establish; it is the source of Italian comprare and Spanish comprar “to buy”.[2][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com