Etymologically
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futurus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [fʊˈtuː.rʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fuˈtuː.rus][1]

Forms

futūrus (feminine futūra, neuter futūrum); first/second-declension participle[1]

Etymology

It is the future participle of sum “to be”, formed on the perfect stem fuī.[2][3] De Vaan derives it from Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂u-tó-, from *bʰ(e)h₂u- (“to become”), and notes that the short stem ⟨fu-⟩ was generalized early.[3] Cognate with Umbrian futu (“be!”), Ancient Greek ἔφυν (éphun, “grew”) and Sanskrit अभूत् (ábhūt, “has become”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero, in On the Orator, speaks of the hope of future advantage.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

As a participle it meant about to be, and as an adjective coming, future, as Cicero's present scarcity and future famine.[2][5] It also meant immediately impending, as when Pollio, writing to Cicero, says he was far from any suspicion of coming civil unrest.[2] The neuter plural futūra was the future, and in grammar tempus futūrum the future tense.[5][1]

Medieval Latin kept it for what is to come, the future life and the next, as Bede speaks of the hope of future immortality.[6] English future is recorded in the late 14th century through Old French futur.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of future advantage.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English future is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. About to be, coming, future.[2][1]
  2. Impending, imminent.[2]
  3. (grammar) Future.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c 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 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. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com