Etymologically
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gero

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɡɛ.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈd͡ʒɛː.ro][1]

Forms

gerō (present infinitive gerere, perfect active gessī, supine gestum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *ges-e/o-, and de Vaan follows the old proposal deriving it from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ǵ-es- (“to carry”), an s-extension of the root of agō.[2] Cognate with Faliscan keset.[1] The Oxford Latin Dictionary calls the origin doubtful, and the Thesaurus unknown.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Naevius uses it.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to bear or carry, as gold in baskets in Plautus, and of things to contain or bear.[3] It was to wear or have on one, to show an expression, to cherish feelings, to play a part (persōnam gerere), and with an adverb sē gerere “to behave”.[3] It was also to carry on, manage or conduct affairs, and to wage war.[1][6] Döderlein contrasts agō, doing in time, and ferō, carrying.[7]

In medieval Latin it was to bear, carry or have, to harbour feelings, and to endure.[8] French gérer and Italian gerire are learned borrowings.[1] English gesture comes from gestus and suggest from suggerere.[9]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of carrying gold in baskets.[3][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the part one wishes to play (persōnam gerere).[3][5]
  • early 15th century – English gesture is recorded, from Medieval Latin gestūra.[9]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To bear, carry.[3][10]
  2. To have in or on it, contain.[3]
  3. To wear; to have (a feature).[3][1]
  4. To show (an expression); to cherish (feelings).[3]
  5. To play the part of, act as.[3]
  6. Sē gerere, to behave.[3][6]
  7. To carry on, manage, conduct; to wage (war).[1][6]
  8. To rule, govern; to perform, accomplish.[1]

Word family

  • aggerō
  • antegestus
  • congerō
  • dēgerō
  • dīgerō
  • ēgerō
  • gerulus
  • gerundium
  • gestiō
  • gestitō
  • gestō
  • gestor

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  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. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press