compos

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔm.pɔs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔm.pos]^[1]

Forms

compos (genitive compotis); third-declension one-termination adjective (non-i-stem)^[1] Genitive compotis; also spelled conpos.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from con- and potis “able, master of”.^[2][1][4] De Vaan traces ⟨potis⟩ to Proto-Italic *poti- (“master”), from Proto-Indo-European *pótis (“master”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC, and the OLD's first citations are from Plautus.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

Usually with a genitive, it meant in possession or control of, endowed with, as in Terence's compos animī “master of oneself” and Cicero's tū mentis compos? “are you in your right mind?”, compos vōtī was one whose prayer had been granted.^[2][6] It also meant sharing in something bad, afflicted with, as in Plautus; of a prayer, granted, as in Seneca; and in an inscription, of Hercules, able to grant prayers.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin suī compos was of sound mind.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for having full possession of one's faculties and for having one's wish.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence has compos animī.^[6][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. In possession or control of, master of, compos mentis in one's right mind.^[2][6]
2. compos vōtī Having one's prayer granted.^[2]
3. Afflicted with.^[2]
4. (of a prayer) Granted.^[2]

Related words

• compotiō
• potis
• impos
• possum

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 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 d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press