Etymologically
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indigeo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪnˈdɪ.ɡe.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [inˈdiː.d͡ʒe.o][1]

Forms

indigeō (present infinitive indigēre, perfect active indiguī); second conjugation, no supine stem, third person-only in the passive[1]

Etymology

It is from indu- “in” and egeō “to lack”.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of needing something.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to need, require, as in Plautus, in Tacitus to be without, and in Terence to feel the lack of.[2] Döderlein explains that carēre refers to a desirable possession, while egēre and indigēre refer to something necessary, and quotes Seneca: virtue often goes without pleasure but never needs it.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to want, need, lack, require.[5] It survives in Italian indigere.[1] Its participle indigēns gave English indigent about 1400.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of needing.[2][3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of feeling the lack.[2][3]
  • c. 1400 – English indigent is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To need, require.[2]
  2. To be without, lack.[2]
  3. To feel the lack of.[2]

Word family

  • indigentia
  • indigus
  • indiguus
  • perindigeo
  • indigēns
  • indigēs

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from careō.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com