erga

Forms

ergā (+ accusative)^[1] The early dramatists sometimes place it after its noun.^[2]

Etymology

It is related to ergō (“on account of; therefore”), made on the model of pairs such as ultrā and ultrō.^[2][1] De Vaan derives both from ⟨*ē-rogō⟩ “from the direction of”, from a noun ⟨*rogo-⟩ “direction”, from the root of regō (“to direct”), Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to stretch, direct”);^[3][1] compare the phrase ⟨ē regiōne⟩, “directly opposite”.^[1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus,^[5] who uses it for “next to”: quae ergā aedem sēsē habet?, “the one who lives next to the temple?”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense, “opposite, right next to”, is rare and found only before and after the classical period.^[2][4][1] Its usual sense is “towards” of feelings and behaviour, first friendly ones (Terence: spectāta ergā tē amīcitiast mea, “my friendship for you has been proved”), and also hostile ones, “against”, for the usual contrā or adversus.^[2][1] In post-Augustan writers, especially Tacitus, it covers any relation to a person or thing, “with regard to, concerning”.^[2][1]

Church Latin glosses it “to, toward, in respect to, opposite”.^[6] In medieval Latin it also meant “from”, as in emere ergā aliquem, “to buy from someone”, and “addressing oneself to”.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: quae ergā aedem sēsē habet?.^[2][5]
• 190–159 BC – Terence: spectāta ergā tē amīcitiast mea.^[2][5]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it for “with regard to”.^[1][5]

Meanings

Preposition

1. (with accusative, rare) Opposite, next to.^[2][4][1][6]
2. Towards, to, for (of feelings, conduct).^[2][1][6]
3. Against.^[1][7]
4. With regard to, concerning.^[2][1]
5. (Medieval Latin) From.^[7][1]

Related words

• ergō
• regō
• regiō
• adversus

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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. ^ 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 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. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill