eu

Pronunciation

• Classical: [ˈɛu̯]^[1]
• Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛːu̯]^[1]

Forms

eu ^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek εὖ (eû, “well”), the Greek adverb used as an exclamation.^[2][3][1][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found first in Plautus, as a cry of approval or joy, “fine!”, “well done!”.^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

It belongs to the language of comedy: Plautus and Terence use it often, sometimes ironically, and Plautus combines it with oaths in eu hercle and eu edepol.^[2][3][5] Horace uses it once, in the Ars Poetica,^[3][6] and Köbler also records it on inscriptions.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it as a cry of approval, also in eu hercle.^[3][5][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it in his comedies.^[3][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it in the Ars Poetica.^[3][4]

Meanings

Interjection

1. Bravo!, well done!, fine!, an exclamation of joy or approval, sometimes ironic.^[2][3][5]

Usage notes

Lewis and Short refer to the related exclamation euge.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.