cupio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkʊ.pi.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkuː.pi.o]^[1]

Forms

cupiō (present infinitive cupere, perfect active cupīvī or cupiī, supine cupītum); third (-iō variant) conjugation^[1]

Etymology

The origin is doubtful.^[2] De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *kup-i-, from Proto-Indo-European *kup-(e)i- (“to tremble, desire”), and compares Umbrian cupra-, an epithet of a goddess, and Sabine ciprus (“good”), cited by Varro.^[3] The LIV, as reported by Wiktionary, derives it from *kwep- “to smoke, boil, move violently”, with a parallel in Sanskrit कुप्यति (kúpyati, “is angry”).^[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius.^[3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to wish for or desire something, to long for someone as a lover, and with a dative to be well disposed to someone, as in alicuius causā cupere “to have someone's interests at heart”.^[2]

Döderlein contrasts volō and optō, acts of calm reason, with cupere, aveō and gestīre, acts of passion.^[6] Its derivatives include cupīdō “desire”, the name of the god Cupid, cupidus “eager” and cupiditās “greed”, the source of English cupidity.^[7] Through Vulgar Latin *cupiditāre it led to Old French coveitier and English covet.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[3][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus says the citizens would not want a kingdom.^[2][5]
• mid-13th century – English covet is recorded.^[7]
• mid-15th century – English cupidity is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To desire, wish for, want.^[2]
2. To long for (as a lover).^[2]
3. (with dative) To be well disposed to, favour.^[2]

Word family

• concupiō
• cupīdō
• cupidus
• cupīscō
• cupītor
• discupiō
• percupiō
• concupiscō
• cupiditās
• cupiēns
• cupiēnter
• cuppēdia

Related words

• English cupidity
• English covet

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com