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ergo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɛr.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛr.ɡo][1]

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

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