conservo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kõːˈsɛr.woː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [konˈsɛr.vo]^[1]

Forms

cōnservō (present infinitive cōnservāre, perfect active cōnservāvī, supine cōnservātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from con- and servō “to save, keep”.^[2][1][3] Quintilian notes that the perfect infinitive ⟨cōnservāsse⟩ was more usual than ⟨cōnservāvisse⟩.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Plautus, of saving from danger.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to save from danger, preserve, as in Plautus and Cicero's self-preservation, to keep intact, as in Cato, and to keep unchanged, maintain, as in Pacuvius.^[2][6] It also meant to act in accordance with, observe, keep to a rule, as in the Rhetorica ad Herennium.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to preserve, keep, save, protect.^[7] It survives in French conserver, Italian conservare and Spanish conservar.^[1] English conserve came in the late 14th century, and English conservation and English conservative come from cōnservātiō and Medieval Latin cōnservātīvus.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of saving.^[2][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of keeping intact.^[2][5]
• 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of maintaining.^[2][5]
• late 14th century – English conserve is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To save, preserve.^[2]
2. To keep intact.^[2]
3. To maintain, keep unchanged.^[2]
4. To observe, keep to.^[2]

Related words

• servō
• cōnservātiō
• English conserve
• English conservation
• English conservative

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ 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