inhaereo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɪˈnae̯.re.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [iˈnɛː.re.o]^[1]

Forms

inhaereō (present infinitive inhaerēre, perfect active inhaesī, supine inhaesum); second conjugation, no passive^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin in- (“in”) + haereō (“to stick”).^[2][1][3] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨haereō⟩ as Proto-Italic *xais-ē- and finds no credible further etymology.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Usually with a dative, it meant to be firmly attached, stick, cling, adhere, as in Cicero; of a person, to hold on tightly, as in Virgil; to stay close to someone as a companion, or press hard on an enemy, as in Ovid; to be stuck fast; of abstract things, to be inherent in, connected with, as in Ovid and Cicero; and of persons, to be absorbed in something.^[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to adhere to, inhere, cling.^[7] English inhere (1580s, “to exist in, belong to the nature of”) is from it.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][5]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of clinging.^[2][5]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of being inherent.^[2][5]
• 1580s – English inhere is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To stick, cling, adhere to.^[2]
2. To hold on tightly; to stay close (to someone); to press hard (on an enemy).^[2]
3. To be stuck fast.^[2]
4. (of abstract things) To be inherent in.^[2]
5. To be absorbed (in something).^[2]

Word family

• inhaerēscō
• inhaesiō

Related words

• adhaereō
• cohaereō
• haereō
• English inhere

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson