Etymologically
Log in

haurio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 02:50. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈhau̯.ri.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaːu̯.ri.o][1]

Forms

hauriō (present infinitive haurīre, perfect active hausī, supine haustum); fourth conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *aus-je-, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews-ye/o- (“to scoop”).[2][1] De Vaan notes that the initial h may be secondary.[2] Cognate with Old Norse ausa (“to scoop, bail”) and Ancient Greek αὔω (aúō, “to fetch fire”), where “to scoop” became limited to fire.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Cato.[2] Cassius Hemina tells of milk drawn from the Tiber.[3] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to draw water or another liquid, to scoop up, then to shed blood, to pierce so as to drain the blood, as a sword drains a breast, and to dig or scoop up solids, such as gold from the treasures of Syria in Cicero.[3] It also meant to drink, to drain a cup, and to drink in with the mind or senses, to take one's fill of something.[3] Figuratively it was to draw something from a source, as Cicero draws from the springs of philosophy, and to carry off or kill.[5]

Its compound exhauriō gave English exhaust in the 1530s.[6]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of gold dug from the treasures of Syria.[3][4]
  • 1530s – English exhaust is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To draw (water), scoop up.[3]
  2. To shed (blood); to pierce, drain of blood.[3]
  3. To dig up (solids).[3]
  4. To drink, drain.[3]
  5. To drink in (with the mind or senses).[3]
  6. (figurative) To draw (from a source).[5]

Word family

  • dehauriō
  • exhauriō
  • hauritorium
  • haustor
  • haustrum
  • haustus
  • perhauriō
  • English exhaust

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 h i j 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com