Etymologically
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conservo

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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]

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