fungor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfʊŋ.ɡɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfuŋ.ɡor]^[1]

Forms

fungor (present infinitive fungī, perfect active fūnctus sum); third conjugation, deponent^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *fung-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *bʰu-n-g- (“to be of use, be used”), a nasal present of Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- (“to enjoy, be of use”).^[2][1] Cognate with Sanskrit भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte, “enjoys”) and Old Irish bongaid (“breaks, harvests”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to perform or discharge a duty or office, early with the accusative and later with the ablative, as Cicero's discharging the functions of the body.^[3][5] It was to go through or experience, suffer or enjoy, as Horace's man worn out by toils.^[3] It was also to function or serve, and to act as something.^[3] Its compound dēfungor meant to be finished, and in the perfect to die.^[2]

Its noun fūnctiō gave English function, and Medieval Latin fungibilis gave the legal word fungible.^[6] It survives as Italian fungere.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it with the ablative.^[5][4]
• 1530s – English function is recorded.^[6]
• 1818 – English fungible is recorded in law.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To perform, discharge, execute (a duty or office).^[3][7]
2. To go through, experience, suffer; to enjoy.^[3]
3. To function, act, serve; to act as.^[3]

Related words

• dēfungor
• English function
• English fungible

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press