gestus

Forms

gestus m (genitive gestūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is an action noun from gerō (“to carry, conduct”) with the suffix -tus.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨gerō⟩ to Proto-Italic *ges-e/o- (“to carry”) and Proto-Indo-European *h2ǵ-es- (“to carry”), an extension of the root of agō, a connection accepted since the laryngeal theory.^[3] He notes that the sense “gesture” of this noun lies behind gestiō (“to be eager, exult”), originally “to make wild gestures”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Terence,^[3][4] whose Phormio has “now I must put on a new posture and face”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It is movement of the body and limbs, carriage, posture, as in Titinius and in dancing (Propertius).^[2][5] Its classic use is for the gestures that support the spoken word, of actors such as Roscius in Cicero and of orators, for whom delivery is the control of voice, face and gesture.^[2] It is also a sign made without words, and in the jurist Ulpian the carrying out of a business.^[2]

In medieval sources it means an action or deed, and management or administration.^[6]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence of a posture.^[2][3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero of the actor Roscius' gestures.^[2][4]
• before 223 AD – Ulpian of carrying out a business.^[2][4]
• early 15th century – English gesture comes from Medieval Latin ⟨gestura⟩, from this noun.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Bodily movement; carriage, posture.^[2][5][1]
2. A gesture accompanying speech, in acting and oratory.^[2][5][1]
3. A sign made without words.^[2]
4. The carrying out of a business.^[2]
5. (Medieval Latin) An action, deed; management, administration.^[6]

Word family

• gesticulus
• gestuōsus
• gestiō

Related words

• gerō
• English gesture

Usage notes

Gestus, -a, -um is also the past participle of gerō, as in rēs gestae “deeds, achievements”.^[5][8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d 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 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
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson