Etymologically
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declaro

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:35. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [deːˈkɫaː.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈklaː.ro][1]

Forms

dēclārō (present infinitive dēclārāre, perfect active dēclārāvī, supine dēclārātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- and clārō “to make clear”, from clārus “clear”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of making known.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to make known, announce, declare, as in Cicero, and to declare someone to be something.[2] In Cicero things serve to show, reveal, testify to something.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to make clear, show, demonstrate, declare.[5] It survives in Italian dichiarare, French déclarer and Spanish declarar, and through Old French it gave English declare in the mid-14th century, first meaning “to explain”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of announcing.[2][4]
  • mid-14th century – English declare is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To make known, declare.[2]
  2. To declare (someone to be something).[2]
  3. To show, reveal.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson