dure

Pronunciation

• Classical: [ˈduː.reː]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [ˈduː.re]^[1]

Forms

dūrē (comparative dūrius, superlative dūrissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dūrus (“hard”) + -ē.^[2][1] De Vaan traces dūrus to Proto-Italic *dūro- and Proto-Indo-European *du(e)h₂-ro- (“far, long”), comparing Sanskrit दूर (dūrá-, “far, distant”) and Ancient Greek δηρός (dērós, “long”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero, who writes that someone seemed to take a matter more coolly than he wished.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

It means harshly, without pity, and coolly or unsympathetically, as in Cicero's letter.^[2] Cicero also uses it of style, of a metaphor that is clumsy or uncouth.^[2] Columella says that hens do not easily grow fat if they sit on a hard surface, and Vitruvius that shorter arms of a machine are drawn back with more difficulty.^[2] Propertius says that nothing lives more wretchedly than a lover.^[2]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero of a cool reception and of clumsy style.^[2][4]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of working with difficulty.^[2][4]
• 1st century AD – Columella of hens sitting hard.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In hard conditions, on a hard surface.^[2]
2. Harshly, severely, without pity; coolly, unsympathetically.^[2][1]
3. Clumsily, uncouthly; stiffly.^[2][1]
4. With difficulty, laboriously.^[2]
5. Wretchedly, unpleasantly.^[2]

Related words

• dūrābilis
• dūrēscō
• dūritās
• dūriter
• dūritia
• dūrō
• dūrus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de