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infra

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈĩː.fraː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiɱ.fra][1]

Forms

īnfrā (comparative īnferius, no superlative)[1] An inscription has the older form infera.[2]

Etymology

It is a contracted form of ⟨īnferā⟩, the ablative singular feminine of īnferus “lower”, like suprā and extrā.[2][3][4] Köbler traces ⟨īnferus⟩ to Proto-Indo-European ⟨*n̥dʰero-⟩ “lower”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for the adverb is from Cato, “below”.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

As an adverb it meant below, underneath, as in Cato, and in Lucretius beneath the reach of the senses, and Quintilian used it for later, further on, and Pliny the Elder for lower in degree.[2] As a preposition with the accusative it meant below, as in Cicero, later than, lower in number, as in Caesar, inferior to, as in Terence, and beneath someone's dignity, as in Cicero.[2]

British Medieval Latin used it for below, further down a page or list, and below the surface.[6] It survives in Italian fra, and English uses infra in footnotes for “further on” and the prefix English infra-.[1][7]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it as an adverb.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it as a preposition, “inferior to”.[2][5]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of what follows.[2][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Below, underneath.[2]
  2. Later, further on.[2]
  3. Lower in degree.[2]

Preposition

  1. (with accusative) Below.[2]
  2. Later than.[2]
  3. Less than; inferior to.[2]
  4. Beneath the dignity of.[2]

Word family

  • infrāforānus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  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. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com