ergo

Forms

ergō ^[1]

Etymology

It is probably from ⟨*ē rogō⟩ or ⟨*ē regō⟩ “from the direction of”, with the middle vowel lost; the noun *rogo- (“direction”) belongs to the root of regō and regiō, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten, direct”).^[2][3][1] ⟨Corgō⟩ “forward” (in Festus) comes in the same way from ⟨*com rogō⟩.^[2] The OLD compares the development of German wegen (“because of”).^[3] Since no other language has the noun, de Vaan suggests an inner-Italic formation.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found as a preposition in the Twelve Tables (ergō + genitive, “on account of”).^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The oldest use is the postposition with the genitive, “on account of, for the sake of”.^[3][1] The particle ergō “therefore, so, then” draws a conclusion, asks in consequence (“then why …?”), introduces an emotional question, and resumes (“well then”).^[3][5]

Its final vowel is long in early Latin and short in Ovid and later poets.^[3][5] The related preposition ergā “towards” is found from Plautus on.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The preposition in the Twelve Tables.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: cūr ergō quod scīs mē rogās? “then why do you ask me what you know?”.^[3][4]
• 43 BC–AD 18 – Ovid shortens the final vowel.^[3][5][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. therefore, so, consequently, accordingly.^[3][5]
2. (in questions) Then, in that case.^[3]
3. Well then, well now (resuming).^[3]

Preposition

1. (with genitive, placed after the noun) On account of, for the sake of.^[3][1]

Word family

• ergā

Related words

• regō
• regiō
• igitur
• itaque

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press