decerno
Pronunciation
Forms
dēcernō (present infinitive dēcernere, perfect active dēcrēvī, supine dēcrētum); third conjugation[1] Syncopated forms such as dēcrēsse and dēcrērō are common, especially in Cicero and Livy.[2][3]
Etymology
It is from dē- and cernō “to sift, decide”.[2][1]
Earliest recorded meaning
The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of announcing a decision.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]
Semantic evolution
It meant to announce as one's judgement, as in Plautus, to bring an issue to a decision, fight it out, as in Cicero, and to determine a question, as in Pliny the Elder.[2] In Cicero it meant to decide on a course of action, and of the senate and magistrates to decree, ordain; of a senator it meant to vote for a proposal.[2]
It survives in Italian decernere and French décerner “to award”.[1] Its participle dēcrētum gave English decree in the early 14th century, at first ecclesiastical.[5]
Timeline
- c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][4]
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of decrees and decisive battles.[2][4]
- early 14th century – English decree is recorded.[5]
Meanings
Verb
- To settle, fight out.[2]
- To decide, determine.[2]
- To judge, pronounce.[2]
- To decree, ordain.[2]
- To vote for.[2]
Word family
- dēcrētiō
- dēcrētōrius
- dēcrētum
- condēcernō
- dēcrētus
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ 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
- ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com